HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol: Young People

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many underage young people were  (a) tried at magistrates courts and  (b) convicted of buying alcohol illegally in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 February 2008
	The number of youths tried at magistrates courts and convicted for offences related to buying alcohol illegally in each of the last five years in England and Wales can be viewed in the table.
	In addition the police can issue a £50 fixed penalty for the offence of "Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18" under section 149(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (c.17).The number of PNDs issued to youths aged 16 to 17 years were 0 in 2004, 17 in 2005 and 62 in 2006.
	
		
			  The number of persons who were proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to purchase of alcohol by a person aged under 18 years in England and Wales, 2002 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2002 13 9 
			 2003 13 10 
			 2004 10 8 
			 2005 14 9 
			 2006 8 6 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions : Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(2). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(2). Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor. Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in Licensed premises. Licensing Act 2003 S. 149(l)(7a) Purchase of alcohol by an individual under 18. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Court proceedings data held by CJEA—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice

Asylum: Children

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to manage the costs of former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children following the recent transfer of that responsibility to her Department.

Jacqui Smith: The UK Border Agency is working to deliver faster conclusions for unaccompanied asylum seeking children—integration or removal by age 18—and consequently reduce calls on leaving care support. Alongside this, discussions are underway with local authorities about the level and management of payments for the support of former unaccompanied asylum seeking children as part of the wider implementation of "Better Outcomes: The Way Forward. Improving the Care of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children" (a copy of which is in the Library, DEP2008-0274).

Departmental Accountancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 623W, on departmental accountancy, what the heading is of each data line her Department uploaded to HM Treasury's Combined On-line Information System in January 2008.

Jacqui Smith: Data lines are uploaded to COINS with codings rather than headings. These codes identify the different categories and types of spend to the COINS system.

Departmental Accountancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 602W, on departmental accountancy, what assessment she has made of the cost to her Department of providing the data for departmental budget lines to HM Treasury.

Jacqui Smith: These costs are not separately identified, and cannot be determined without incurring excessive costs.

Departmental Accountancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2008 , Official Report, column 861W, on departmental accountancy, what estimate she has made of the cost of providing the requested information.

Jacqui Smith: The cost of providing the requested information was estimated as being in excess of the current limit of £700.
	All budgetary data are required to be uploaded at a high level of detail to the Treasury's Combined Online Information System (COINS), in a format that is coded to be compatible with it. This allows subsequent analysis (via COINS) across the budgets, estimates, accounts and national accounts, for publication (at aggregated level) in the national accounts, departmental report, supplementary budgetary information tables, and estimates.
	These raw data were designed to be analysed by COINS, and as such are of no value without the means to decode them. The complex analysis that was requested in the original question required decoding and analysis of the raw data by a means other than COINS. It would require a range of data sources to be used, to obtain both the estimate line and departmental report heading codes and related information, to allow the level of analysis required by the question.
	Staff investigated the most efficient way of providing this analysis, and then tested the viability of providing a full decoding and analysis of the uploaded data. This demonstrated that the extent of the work required to complete the full analysis would exceed the cost limit set for PQs. At that point, work stopped on the PQ.

Departmental Accountancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 602W, on Departmental accountancy, what estimate she has made of the monthly cost to her Department of providing the data for 385 departmental budget lines to HM Treasury.

Jacqui Smith: Providing the monthly data is an important requirement placed on all Departments by the Treasury. No estimate of the costs has been made.

Departmental Manpower

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals were employed as staff by her Department and its agencies in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: All candidates for posts within the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau) are subject to the same pre-appointment checks regardless of nationality. Our pre-appointment checks ensure that we only select those that pass eligibility in accordance with the Cabinet Office nationality requirements:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/eligibility/nationality.asp
	Information on whether UK citizens employed by the Home Office and its agencies were born in the UK or abroad, and on the number of foreign nationals employed is not recorded centrally, and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in England were convicted of assault in which the victim was  (a) a female partner,  (b) a male partner,  (c) a child and  (d) one of their own children in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally.

Driving Offences: Insurance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions were secured for the offence of driving without insurance in each of the last five years in London, broken down by borough.

Vernon Coaker: Information held by the Ministry of Justice relates to the offence of using a motor vehicle whilst uninsured against third party risks, it is available at police force level only. The latest year for which figures are held is 2006.
	Information relating to the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas is in the following table. Information for 2007 should be available later in 2008.
	
		
			  Findings of guilt at magistrates courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks( 1) , within London, 2002-06 
			  Number of offences 
			   Police force area 
			   City of London police  Metropolitan police  Total London 
			 2002 1,330 27,116 28,446 
			 2003 1,605 31,463 33,068 
			 2004 1,122 36,465 37,587 
			 2005 1,068 36,033 37,101 
			 2006 1,130 37,075 38,205 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 143 (2).  Notes: l. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Firearms: Licensing

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many  (a) firearm certificates and  (b) shotgun certificates were (i) issued, (ii) revoked and (iii) renewed in each police force area in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many  (a) firearm certificates,  (b) shotgun certificates,  (c) firearms covered by certificates and  (d) shotguns covered by certificates there were in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information, relating to1995 up to and including 2005-06, is given in the tables placed in the House Library .

Fraud: Banks

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom the police classify as the victim of a crime when someone who has had money fraudulently taken from their bank account has been reimbursed by the bank; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) and Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (HOCR) provide guidance to police forces on how they should record and classify crimes. These are public documents available online at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/countrules.html
	The Counting Rules include guidance issued to both police and financial institutions relating to fraud by false representation for cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts This guidance was agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the UK Payments Association and implemented on 1 April 2007. It is clear that the financial institution is to be treated as the victim except where they have refused to refund losses to an account holder. Where an account holder is the financial loser they are to be treated as the victim for crime recording purposes.

Genetics: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  in how many prosecutions DNA samples from the national DNA database was used in evidence since the database was created;
	(2)  in how many cases where convictions have been secured DNA from the national DNA database was used in evidence since the database was created.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of prosecutions in which DNA samples from the National DNA Database have been used in evidence and on any subsequent convictions is not collected centrally. Information is available on the number of crimes detected in which a DNA match was available and a suspect identified and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), on 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 488W.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 7 February 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mrs Rabia Begum.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 March 2008. This was unfortunately incorrectly addressed. A copy of this letter was sent on 19 May 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer the letter of 28 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on Mr. S. Shah.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 12 June 2008.

Passports: Interviews

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the cost has been of establishing each passport interview office, broken down by  (a) capital costs,  (b) staffing costs and  (c) other operational costs;
	(2)  what has been spent on establishing and operating the network of passport interview offices.

Jacqui Smith: Staffing and operational costs per interview office are unavailable at this time as the network of offices is only just reaching full operational status. In due course it is our intention to publish the staffing and operational costs for 2008-09, the first full year of operations.
	However, the monthly cost of operating the interview office network during 2008-09, including office rental, security, IT systems, administrative overheads and staff is estimated at £2.50 million. This excludes the cost of depreciation of relevant capital expenditure.
	Subject to year-end adjustments for 2007-08, the total capital expenditure to date to establish the network of interview offices has been £49.9 million. Within this total, the capital costs to establish each office are as follows:
	
		
			  Cost centre  Fit-out costs (£) 
			 Belfast 554,625 
			 Armagh 384,173 
			 Coleraine 364,662 
			 Omagh 368,781 
			 Birmingham 1,129,056 
			 Derby 494,053 
			 Leicester 382,369 
			 Northampton 379,860 
			 Shrewsbury 364,662 
			 Stoke on Trent 372,095 
			 Warwick 368,051 
			 Dundee 377,292 
			 Edinburgh 423,095 
			 Glasgow 991,170 
			 Aberdeen 370,649 
			 Inverness 369,016 
			 Oban 379,338 
			 Stirling 374,267 
			 Wick 365,218 
			 Leeds 730,386 
			 Kingston on Hull 381,155 
			 Scarborough 379,783 
			 Sheffield 485,260 
			 York 401,083 
			 Liverpool 606,682 
			 Wrexham 375,898 
			 Manchester 1,350,224 
			 Blackburn 426,495 
			 Carlisle 377,485 
			 Dumfries 369,686 
			 Selkirk 395,040 
			 Kendal 364,662 
			 Middlesbrough 421,827 
			 Newcastle 734,647 
			 Berwick Upon Tweed 368,781 
			 Ripon 365,025 
			 Crawley 373,520 
			 Dover 378,143 
			 Brighton 434,592 
			 Luton 486,166 
			 London 2,569,743 
			 Chelmsford 431,560 
			 Maidstone 388,721 
			 Bristol 431,923 
			 Cheltenham 369,335 
			 Newport 562,411 
			 Aberystwyth 368,781 
			 Swansea 423,230 
			 Swindon 369,733 
			 Bury St Edmunds 369,189 
			 Ipswich 369,016 
			 Kings Lynn 376,407 
			 Lincoln 382,119 
			 Norwich 380,430 
			 Peterborough 494,404 
			 Sleaford 368,231 
			 Redruth 379,874 
			 Exeter 377,340 
			 Plymouth 497,120 
			 South Molton 369,544 
			 St. Austell 366,835 
			 Yeovil 376,022 
			 Bournemouth 376,501 
			 Newport (IOW) 365,387 
			 Oxford 377,835 
			 Portsmouth 461,079 
			 Reading 598,544 
			 Andover 367,712 
			   
			 Total 32,588,000

Pornography: Internet

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with  (a) US and  (b) Russian authorities on preventing access to child abuse images on the internet.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Secretary has not held any discussion with US or Russians specifically on preventing access to child abuse images on the internet.
	However, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), which is funded by the Home Office, has regular contact with law enforcement overseas through the Virtual Global Taskforce, on the prevention of child exploitation.
	Furthermore, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the US recently contributed to the development of the Social Networking Guidance, produced by the Home Secretary's Taskforce on Online Child Protection. The Home Secretary met delegates from the centre at this launch event.
	We have discussed with US the possibility of sharing sex offender databases.
	In addition, at the June 2008 G8 Justice and Interior Ministers meeting, delegates (including representatives from the US and Russia) showed their continued commitment to combating online child abuse images.

Vetting: EU Countries

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what reciprocal arrangements are in place between the UK and other EU member states to check criminal records;
	(2)  what plans there are to establish an EU-wide database for criminal record checks.

Jacqui Smith: There are no plans to establish an EU wide database for criminal record checks. However under Council Decision 2005/876/JHA of 21 November 2005 the United Kingdom can, in the context of criminal proceedings in the UK, send a request for criminal record information to another member state in relation to offences committed by nationals of the member state. An EU member state can, in the context of criminal proceedings in that member state, request criminal record information about a UK national from the UK.
	Under the same Council Decision, the UK already receives conviction information on UK nationals who have been convicted of offences in EU member states and sends, to the member state of nationality, criminal record information on EU nationals convicted in the UK. Information received in the UK is entered on to the Police National Computer by the UK Central Authority for the Exchange of Criminal Records.
	The European Union has agreed a general approach on a proposal for a Council Framework Decision on the organisation and content of the exchange of information extracted from criminal records between member states. We expect the Framework Decision to be adopted by the end of 2008 with an implementation deadline of three years from the date of agreement.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Art Works: Royalties

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent representations he has received from representatives of the British art market on the Artist's Resale Right, with particular reference to representations on the application of the right to living artists only.

Ian Pearson: My colleague, Baroness Morgan, the Minister responsible for Intellectual Property, has met with representatives of the art trade to discuss resale right. We have also received written representations from the British Art Market Federation on this issue.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what  (a) representations he has received from and  (b) discussions he has had with university admissions tutors on the account taken of A-level qualifications in their admission assessments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research his Department  (a) has commissioned,  (b) plans to commission and  (c) has evaluated on the role of A-levels in university admission assessments; when his Department last undertook a review of the role of A-levels in admission assessments that took into account (i) UK and (ii) international research; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I meet many leaders in higher education to discuss issues of importance to them, including the reforms to our national qualifications system and admissions. Higher education institutions are solely responsible for their own admissions and it is for them to decide the entry requirements to individual courses, including prior qualifications.
	The Department does not assess the value of the wide range of entry qualifications that institutions may use to select from applicants. But the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations, and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service's tariff is a points system used to report achievement for entry to higher education in a numerical format. It establishes agreed comparability between different types of qualifications and provides comparisons between applicants with different types and volumes of achievement.
	A-levels already provide a high quality, well recognised route into HE courses for large numbers of students and the changes that are being made from September will reinforce this. New A-levels which are being taught from September this year have incorporated further stretch and challenge and the new Extended Project has been widely welcomed by admissions tutors as likely to allow applicants to demonstrate the independent study skills that they will need for HE. These will be complemented by the new diplomas and over 100 higher education institutions have already confirmed that they will include these new qualifications as part of their admissions processes. A recent report by the 1994 Group of universities shows widespread welcome for changes being made to A-levels to ensure they provide the right level of stretch and challenge for those going on to higher education. The same report was also positive about the use universities would make of the new diplomas in admissions.

Students: Fees and Charges

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what consideration he has given to giving the 2009 Fee Commission a mandate to consider the needs of part-time students; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: There will be an independent review of the first three years of the new fee and student support arrangements which will make recommendations for Parliament to consider. The draft terms of reference we published for the review in January 2004 included reference to "Choice of institution and course, mode of study (full time/part time)".
	But ahead of that there are a number of pressing questions about what Government and universities should do over the next 10 to 15 years to ensure we have a world class system of higher education. It is on these issues that Government, universities and others should now focus.

Students: Finance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of  (a) the number and proportion of higher education students studying part-time who are supported by their employers and  (b) the average contribution made by employers to those students they support.

Bill Rammell: A 2004 study of part-time students for the DFES found that 41 per cent. of part-time students received some help with their fees from an employer, with 36 per cent. having all their fees paid. The report is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR600.pdf
	A reliable estimate of the average contribution made by employers to those students receiving this type of support is not available.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received assistance from the Access to Work scheme in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those people had been diagnosed with a mental illness.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 16 June 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  People who received assistance from Access to Work 
			   Received assistance  Mental health condition (Percentage) 
			 2003-04 24,000 <1 
			 2004-05 26,000 <1 
			 2005-06 25,000 <1 
			 2006-07 24,000 1 
			 2007-08 (provisional) 28,000 1 
			  Notes: 1. All numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand; all percentages are rounded to the nearest percentage point. 2. A new, more relevant definition of participation has been established for reporting from 2007-08 onwards; data are not yet available to give a final figure for the year 2007-08. This figure is not directly comparable with figures for previous years. 3. The mental health category is based on the condition recorded on the Access to Work computer system. No records are kept on whether participants have been diagnosed with the condition. Only the primary condition of a participant is recorded, and as such, these figures are likely to underestimate the proportion of those with a mental health condition. These percentages exclude dyslexia. 4. Many people who receive assistance from Access to Work in a particular year continue to benefit from this support in further years.  Source: The Access to Work Evaluation Database.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what organisational status Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) will have; and whether CMEC staff transferred from the Child Support Agency will retain Civil Service status.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 16 June 2008
	Schedule 1 paragraph 22 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 provides that the functions of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission are to be exercised on behalf of the Crown. This means that all Agency employee terms and conditions are protected on transfer and that transferred Agency people will remain civil servants as stated during the passage of the Act. It is our intention that the Commission be classified as a Crown non-departmental public body once the relevant provisions of the Act have been commenced.

Children: Poverty

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in child poverty in Mid Essex  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: Our child poverty statistics, published in the Households Below Average Income series, allow a breakdown of child poverty by Government office region. However, the information requested is not available below the level of Government office region.

Employment and Support Allowance: ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of readiness of the employment and support allowance computer system prior to the introduction of the benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The introduction of employment and support allowance and associated computer system is matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 19 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the level of readiness of the Employment and Support Allowance computer system prior to the introduction of the Allowance. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The IT platform for the delivery of Employment and Support Allowance will be built onto existing systems. By using tried and tested systems we lessen the risk associated with major change in our business.
	The Employment and Support Allowance component of both computer systems continues to undergo rigorous testing by experienced test teams made up of IT experts, DWP test analysts and Jobcentre Plus operational staff.
	A Model Office is in place to test the full range of Employment and Support Allowance products and processes in a 'live' office environment to provide further assurance that the system will be business ready for October 2008. Products are evaluated individually and are assured for compatibility with current business products to ensure the successful delivery of Employment and Support Allowance.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Industrial Health and Safety: Redcliffe Bay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive works in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence on the maintenance of safety and security standards at the Redcliffe Bay oil storage depot site; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Redcliffe Bay oil and storage depot is subject to the provisions of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) which apply to the site due to the quantity of fuel stored there and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The site duty holder is the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) which operates the depot on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The COMAH Regulations are enforced in England and Wales by a Competent Authority comprising of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA). HSE inspects the site in respect of the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 and relevant Statutory Instruments made under the Act.
	The duty holder is required to secure the site in order to control the risks arising from trespass of an ordinary member of the public. HSE is reviewing the measures taken by OPA to achieve this level of security. Conclusions reached under this review will be formally communicated to OPA. Any additional security measures which may be required to deal with such matters as terrorist issues or other criminal activities are a matter for the security services, the Home Office and the police.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of Jobcentre Plus's out-of-hours telephone service.

Stephen Timms: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves, dated 19 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of Jobcentre Plus' Out of Hours telephone service. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Ms Strathie as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. I am replying in her absence as Acting Chief Executive.
	We made changes to our Out Of Hours Service on 12 May. Local stakeholders were informed of the changes as part of local planning and implementation. Some local issues were raised and in a few locations we have deferred the changes until 28 May to ensure a smooth delivery of the new arrangements.
	Local representations have been made by:
	West Midlands: one hostel in Staffordshire, three in Birmingham area, one in Walsall and one welfare rights organisation.
	North West: one homeless men's hostel and one women's hostel in the Merseyside area.
	Wales: Benefits Advice Shop Charity and Emergency Social Services Association Wales.
	Scotland: Social Work Department (in West and East Scotland)
	South East: Welfare Rights.

Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much was recovered by his Department's Recovery From Estates Debt Management Unit in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the cost of running his Department's Recovery From Estates Debt Management Unit was in the latest year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: Recovery From Estates recovered £23.3 million in 2007-08. The cost of running the unit was £1.4 million.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Standards

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what risk assessment she has made of pilots flying into London airports whose English language skills are not compliant with the minimum requirements of the Civil Aviation Organisation; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the findings of the Air Accident Investigation Branch investigation into the incident of a LOT Airliner, involving language communications difficulties with air traffic control on its approach to Heathrow airport;
	(3)  if she will prevent any airline operators from landing at London's airports who do not comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's requirement for pilots to be proficient in English language; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation into LOT flight 282 on 4 June 2007 concluded that the primary cause of the incident was a single error made by the co-pilot prior to take off from Heathrow by the use of "E" instead of "W" when the longitude co-ordinates were entered into the flight management system. This led to the crew experiencing difficulties navigating the aircraft and necessitated their return to Heathrow under the guidance of air traffic control.
	The AAIB report notes that the crew's difficulties were complicated by the commander of the aircraft having some difficulty comprehending and communicating with the air traffic controllers, a situation probably exacerbated by the high workload in the cockpit attendant on the navigational problems. The report suggests that the incident is indicative of problems which can arise through a lack of understanding between controllers and flight crews.
	Accurate communication between flight crews and air traffic controllers is clearly a matter of the first importance to the safety of international aviation. The requirements for language proficiency for operational personnel are determined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which has traditionally required that air-ground radiotelephony communications shall be conducted in the language normally used by the station on the ground or in the English language.
	In 2003, with UK support, ICAO took steps to reinforce rules on language proficiency. It set a deadline of March 2008 for proficiency in Level 4 (operational) and above English for all pilots flying international routes, and for ATC controllers serving international airports and routes. The proficiency scale ranges from Level 1 to Level 6, with guidelines published for pronunciation, fluency, structure, vocabulary, comprehension and interaction. Level 4 (operational) proficiency is considered as a minimum 'stepping stone' to higher levels.
	The UK became compliant with ICAO's language proficiency requirements on 5 March 2008.
	However, in recognition that not all states would be able to comply fully by March 2008, ICAO, while urging states to meet the deadline if at all possible, has allowed for a transition period from March 2008 until March 2011. The Polish Civil Aviation Office are due to specify a date by which they will comply with the ICAO requirement for English language proficiency.
	I naturally hope that all ICAO signatory states become compliant with the language proficiency requirements as soon as possible. As ICAO Level 4 (operational) proficiency in English is not yet binding on States, however, the UK, as an ICAO signatory, cannot make this a requirement for granting permission to foreign airlines to operate to UK airports.
	I understand however that evaluation of this incident by UK air navigation services provider, NATS, has identified to a number of learning points which have been incorporated into NATS' "Training for Unusual and Emergency Circumstances" package which all controllers are required to complete annually.
	The European Aviation Safety Agency is consulting on its draft implementing rules for operations and flight crew licensing from May to November 2008. These proposals include legal requirements on language proficiency.

Bicycles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps the Government have taken to increase the provision of bicycle racks in public places.

Rosie Winterton: The provision of bicycle racks in public places is the responsibility of individual local authorities.
	We encourage all local authorities to develop a cycling strategy as part of their local transport plan (LTP). This can include the provision of bicycle racks as well as on and off road cycle facilities such as cycle tracks and cycle lanes.
	In January the Department announced a £140 million investment, over the next three years, for its cycling delivery body, Cycling England. This will complement local authority spend. £47 million of this has been allocated to extending the cycling demonstration towns (CDTs) programme to include up to 17 towns and a large city. As part of their programmes the successful CDTs will be able to provide cycle parking as well as other facilities for cyclists.
	As part of the proposed package of public transport improvements to complement the planned congestion charge scheme, the Greater Manchester authorities intend to provide more than 2,500 extra cycle parking spaces introduced at 250 new locations and secure long-term parking facilities for bikes at rail and Metrolink stations.
	We made funds available to provide over 2,500 cycle parking spaces in 2004-05, together with cycle shelters and CCTV at various stations all round the country.
	In addition to this many train operators have provided improved cycle parking at public interchanges often working with local authorities. For example, TfL have provided improved cycle parking including the introduction of the innovative cycle centre at Finsbury Park Station, and Surrey county council have also worked with train operators to improve cycle parking at a number of stations in the county.

Bicycles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps the Government has taken to promote road safety amongst cyclists.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of Tuesday 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 848W, to the hon. Member for the City of Chester (Christine Russell).

Cars: Research

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1894W, to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) on cars: research, what studies in this area conducted elsewhere in the EU her Department has evaluated.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is aware of EU studies on eco-driving techniques. However, these relate to the most efficient way of driving in different traffic conditions rather than to the effects of constant speed driving. We are not aware of any specific EU studies which have been undertaken on the most economical constant driving speed.
	My response of 22 April indicated that we had taken account of the results of EU research in deriving emissions factors. The principal study considered was the EU ARTEMIS programme. However data from COST 319 (MEET), COPERT 4, PARTICULATES and OSCAR programmes were also considered in deriving emissions factors.
	A summary of the ARTEMIS programme is available at http://www.trl.co.uk/ARTEMIS/. Publication of the final report(1) is currently pending.
	Details of the COST 319 (MEET), COPERT and PARTICIPATES programmes are available at:
	http://www.inrets.fr/infos/cost319/index.html
	http://lat.eng.auth.gr/copert/
	http://lat.eng.auth.gr/particulates/
	Unfortunately the OSCAR programme website is no longer available.
	(1) Boulter, P.G. and McCrae, I.S. (editors) (2007). Assessment and reliability of transport emission models and inventory systems. Final Report of the 5FP EU ARTEMIS (Assessment and reliability of transport emission models and inventory systems) project. DG TREN Contract No. 1999-RD. 10429. Deliverable No. 15. TRL report UPR/IE/044/07, TRL Limited, Wokingham.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table sets out the amounts that the Department for Transport has spent on training courses for staff over the last five years:
	
		
			   2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04 
			 Central DfT (£m) 3.1 2.8 2.5 3.1 2.1 
			 Highways Agency (£m) 7.25 7.0 7.1 7.05 6.96 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (£000) 170 2.6 1.1 0.8 0.2 
			 Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (£m) 2.4 2.4 2.7 2.1 1.7 
			 Marine and Coastguard Agency (£m) 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.5 1.2 
			 Driving Standards Agency (£000) 847 745 780 678 594 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (£000) 146 195 118 159 126 
			 Vehicle Operator Service Agency (£000) 604 496 589 515 449

Great Western Trains: Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that sufficient rolling stock continues to be available to First Great Western (FGW) to operate the Cardiff-Portsmouth line in the event that Arriva give notice that they wish to terminate the arrangement whereby their rolling stock is leased to FGW.

Tom Harris: holding answer 13 June 2008
	The Department for Transport remains in dialogue with the parties involved to ensure they understand what risk there may be of the additional trains being recalled, and how that risk can be mitigated.

Heathrow Airport: Passengers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers connecting between flights at Heathrow Airport began their journeys in  (a) the UK,  (b) France,  (c) Belgium,  (d) the Netherlands,  (e) Luxembourg,  (f) Germany,  (g) Austria,  (h) Switzerland,  (i) Italy,  (j) Spain and  (k) other locations in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of passengers connecting (transferring) between flights at Heathrow airport who began their journeys at locations in  (a) the UK,  (b) France,  (c) Belgium,  (d) the Netherlands,  (e) Luxembourg,  (f) Germany,  (g) Austria,  (h) Switzerland,  (i) Italy,  (j) Spain and  (k) other locations, in 2007 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Country from  Transfer passengers (thousands) 
			 Austria 195 
			 Belgium 307 
			 France 790 
			 Germany 968 
			 Italy 545 
			 Luxembourg 20 
			 Netherlands 390 
			 Spain 709 
			 Switzerland 312 
			 United Kingdom 2,573 
			 Other locations 16,050 
			 Total transfer passengers at Heathrow 22,860

Motorways: Road Traffic Control

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation her Department undertook on the ramp metering scheme model before its implementation on the highway network.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency (HA) developed a deliberately proactive stakeholder engagement strategy to support the wider implementation of ramp metering across its network. The purpose of the strategy was to explain the concepts and anticipated benefits of ramp metering, introduce the project structure and the sites selected for implementation, engender understanding, trust and support among stakeholders, provide a coherent and consistent picture of progress and minimise the risk of mis-information.
	Due to the extent to which ramp metering affects the operation of the motorway, the HA recognised that there would be a wide range of interested parties, both at a national and local level, with whom it would be essential to liaise. These included the network 'consumers' (nationally and local to a scheme), regional and local government, police and other emergency services, driver and business representative groups, suppliers and staff.
	The stakeholder engagement strategy and associated communications plan provided a detailed identification of the main stakeholders and their information needs, the roles and responsibilities for stakeholder engagement and the key messages and available channels of communication. Different types of communications included presentations, press notices, briefing notes, meetings, leaflets and a publicity video.
	As an example, for the new sites on the M4 in the South East, liaison has taken place with the following stakeholders:
	Slough Borough Council (including SBC communications team);
	Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (including RBWM communications team);
	Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust;
	Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services;
	Metropolitan Police Service;
	East Regional Control Centre; and
	South East Regional Control Centre.

Network Rail

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the role of the Office of Rail Regulation is in respect of network enhancements proposed by Network Rail; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reasons the Office of Rail Regulation rejected the scheme proposed by Network Rail to redouble track between Swindon and Kemble.

Tom Harris: Following the Secretary of State's publication of the High Level Output Specification (HLOS), specifying what she wants the railways to deliver over the five years from 2009 to 2014, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) asked Network Rail to publish a plan on behalf of the industry setting out how the Government's requirements could be delivered. Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan included enhancement schemes that it considered were needed to deliver the specified outputs.
	In its draft determinations, ORR set out which enhancement projects it proposes to provide funding for. Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan included redoubling the track between Swindon and Kemble, but ORR concluded that this was not necessary to deliver the performance improvements specified in the HLOS.

Olympic Games 2012: Manpower

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many members of her Department have been seconded to work on transport issues for the 2012 Olympic Games; which organisations they have been seconded to; and when their secondments will  (a) commence and  (b) finish.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There have been no Department for Transport officials seconded to work on transport issues for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Parking

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many members of her Department have access to car parking facilities at each Department and agency building.

Jim Fitzpatrick: General staff car parking facilities are not available at the Department's London headquarters buildings. Elsewhere, car parking facilities are allocated according to site specific local policy. Information on arrangements at each building has been placed in the Library of the House.
	A listing by building for the regional sites operated by the Driving Standards Agency and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the maximum average load factor is at each station identified in Table A4 and A5 of her Department's 2007 White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the  (a) forecast passenger demand and  (b) train capacity was at each station identified in Table A4 and A5 of her Department's 2007 White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  who in her Department has responsibility for policy on train capacity; and whether a national study on train capacity is planned.

Tom Harris: The average maximum load factor for each London termini is shown on table figure 5.4 on page 53 of the 2007, White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, published in July 2007 and available on the departmental website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/white papercm7176/.
	These are the most recent data available.
	The load factor data for the regional cities shown on table figure 5.5 on page 55 of the White Paper are also the most recent data available for these cities.
	The Forecast Passenger Demand and Train Capacity data contained in the White Paper are the most recent available data.
	A national study on train capacity was conducted to inform the proposals contained in the White Paper.

Railways

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has introduced to ensure that train companies providing long-distance travel allow standard class passengers to sit in first class when there are no seats available in standard class.

Tom Harris: Train companies guarantee the provision of seats where reservations have been made. Seat reservations are automatically included with many tickets, such as quota controlled 'Advance' fares.
	In other circumstances, on-train staff may give permission for holders of Standard Class tickets to travel in First Class accommodation without extra charge. Alternatively they may declassify First Class carriages. However, this is a matter for the train companies and their staff and will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Railways: Electrification

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in her Department are working on plans to upgrade or increase railway electrification.

Tom Harris: The Government committed in last year's rail White Paper, "Delivering a Sustainable Railway", to keep the case for further rail electrification under review. The improving business case suggests great potential for a rolling programme of electrification, and the Department continues to work with the rail industry to explore how the cost of electrification can be reduced, and to prioritise schemes. A number of officials are at times engaged with this work, and as a result, it is not possible to provide a simple figure. Upgrades of existing electrification infrastructure are a matter for Network Rail.

Railways: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on  (a) railways and  (b) roads, including Highways Agency allocations for each year of the Department's existence; and what the projected figures are for 2008-09.

Tom Harris: holding answer 16 May 2008
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Outturn  Estimated outturn  Plans 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Rail 3390 4236 4252 3608 4632 4450 3700 
			 
			 Roads 4816 4912 5496 6159 6970 7400 7827 
			  Of which:
			 Highways Agency 4209 4283 4769 5405 6204 6460 6937 
			 Other roads spend 607 629 727 754 766 940 890 
		
	
	The Department also provides funding to local authorities via the Department's Integrated Transport Block and for Local Authority Major Schemes, as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Funding provided to LAs (including roads) 915 933 717 659 631 892 1043 
		
	
	Local authorities spend this funding both on road-related schemes and public transport projects. It is not possible to disaggregate the data between the different types of project.

Railways: Finance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what schemes her Department plans to allocate funding from the Designated Community Rail Fund.

Tom Harris: The Designated Community Rail Development Fund is a new initiative intended to assist with locally based schemes such as small scale station improvements (signage, seating, landscaping, artwork), promotions (web-sites, leaflets, posters, special events) and community engagement (work with schools, youth clubs, groups who are from socially excluded groups).
	The mix of schemes that will be funded will depend on what applications are made by Community Rail Partnerships on designated routes.

Railways: Overcrowding

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the evidential basis is for her Department's calculation that each rail passenger requires 0.45 square metres of space as stated on page 153 of her Department's 2007 White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway.

Tom Harris: As the White Paper states, the 0.45 square metres figure is one that has been in general use within the industry. It has been used for some time, in conjunction with other measures which are also described in the White Paper, as a rule of thumb when calculating train capacity. It was determined by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), based on earlier work by the British Railways Board.

Railways: Overcrowding

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the margins for error in her Department's figures on train capacity;
	(2)  what methods are used by her Department and its agencies to calculate train capacity.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport's calculation of train capacity is based on a consistently applied calculation, which uses the size of the interior of each passenger railway vehicle, divided by a space of 0.45 m(2) which is an industry-standard calculation of the space occupied by each passenger.
	Any structures, such as luggage racks are included in the calculation, and the total size of the vehicle interior is reduced accordingly to reflect where these structures exist. These calculations are updated when modifications are made to the interior of any fleet of passenger rail vehicles.

Railways: Rolling Stock

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the supporting evidence is for her Department's calculation, for rolling stock with no information on furnishable space available, that train capacity is 1.4 times the number of seats, and 1.2 times the number of seats on inter-city rolling stock.

Tom Harris: This calculation was undertaken to support the rail High Level Output Specification, published in July 2007. For the small numbers of rolling stock where detailed information was not readily available at the time, the train capacity was based on the approximate mid-point of the range of similar trains where full data were available. While commuter and regional rolling stock types have similar seat and standing densities, inter-city rolling stock tends to have a lower seating density.

Railways: Rolling Stock

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) locomotives,  (b) multiple units,  (c) freight wagons and  (d) carriages were in use on the rail network in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by (i) train operating company and (ii) class.

Tom Harris: This information is not held by the Department for Transport, but is widely available in the specialist press.

Railways: Scotland

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1895W, on railways: Scotland, what work she has asked Network Rail to undertake on new lines and high speed rail lines between England and Scotland.

Tom Harris: Network Rail accepted an invitation from the Secretary of State to develop longer term options for the railway network. This will include consideration of new and high-speed lines.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains she plans to order in the first phase of the  (a) Thameslink and  (b) Intercity Express Programme Order in the summer of 2009.

Tom Harris: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Thameslink
	The Thameslink Rolling Stock project intends to order an entire new fleet to operate the enhanced Thameslink service from December 2015. The fleet size will be between 900 and 1,300 vehicles depending on detailed service planning. It is intended to award a single contract for the whole fleet in summer 2009 at which time the delivery schedule for the vehicles will be agreed.
	 (b) Inter-city Express Programme
	In the case of the Inter-city Express Programme (IEP) the number of trains will be determined by the train service provider based on the performance regime they have contracted to meet and the number of trains required to operate the timetable for the chosen routes. While the Secretary of State for Transport will provide a commitment to use the trains over a 20 year period there will not be an order for a specific number of trains. Consequently, until IEP bids have been received and evaluated a broad estimate of between 600 and 1,200 vehicles can be assumed.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 265W, on rolling stock: procurement, how many of the 317 vehicles ordered from manufacturers will be delivered in October 2008.

Tom Harris: The intention is that four electric multiple unit vehicles will be delivered to the London Midland Franchise in October 2008 subject to completion of the testing and acceptance requirements.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 265W, on rolling stock: procurement, what the date of delivery is of each carriage ordered; and on which line each carriage will be delivered.

Tom Harris: The detailed delivery dates and exact allocation of rolling stock is for the train operator to manage. The new vehicle orders apply to Chiltern Railways, New Southern Railways and London Midland.

Trains: Procurement

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information was provided to her Department by Alstom and Barclays Private Equity on their reasons for withdrawing from the tendering process to build trains under the Intercity Express Programme.

Tom Harris: Alstom advised the Department for Transport that it decided to withdraw from the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) competition to focus instead on other major rolling stock opportunities. The Department is reassured that Alstom remains committed to the UK rail market and we look forward to receiving robust bids from IEP bidders in the coming weeks.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Civil Servant Prosecutions

Simon Hughes: To ask the Solicitor-General what role law officers play in decisions to prosecute civil servants on matters arising out of their employment.

Vera Baird: If the offence is one for which the consent of the Attorney to prosecute is not required, the decision whether to prosecute would be taken by the relevant prosecuting authority. If the offence requires the consent of the Attorney, and the Attorney received a request for consent, she would deal with it in the normal way—namely form a view as to whether there was sufficient evidence and whether a prosecution was in the public interest. The decision would be taken independently of Government.

Rape Victims

Katy Clark: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress she has made in her proposals to seek the admission in rape trials of evidence on the psychological reactions of rape victims.

Vera Baird: Two joint inspectorate reports in 2002 and 2007 identified that the attitude to the victim within the court process was key to improving conviction rate and so have convened a group of experts including the judiciary to look at potential ways to dispel the myths that unfairly influence juries.

Careless Driving

Peter Bone: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on bringing into force the legislative provision establishing the offence of causing death by careless driving.

Vera Baird: I am aware that colleagues at the Ministry of Justice have previously confirmed that the new offence will be commenced after the Sentencing Guidelines Council has published guidelines for the court. These are expected later in the summer and the Ministry of Justice will work closely with other interested Departments to agree an implementation date.

National Fraud Strategic Authority

Alun Michael: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made in the work of the National Fraud Strategic Authority and Reporting Centre.

Vera Baird: The National Fraud Strategic Authority is being established to co-ordinate a national strategy to combat fraud, to be in place by the end of the year. Proposals for a National Fraud Reporting Centre that will provide major enhancements for reporting fraud and acting on fraud intelligence is now in an early pilot stage.

Prosecutions: Northampton

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Solicitor-General in what proportion of prosecutions in Northamptonshire victim personal statements  (a) formed part of the case files and  (b) were shared with the court in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not retain data for the proportion of victim personal statements, which form part of the prosecution file or the proportion of victim personal statements which are shared with the court.
	However, the CPS recognises the importance that victim personal statements can have to inform the decision to prosecute and the appropriate charges and the added value in providing victims of crime with an opportunity to inform the court about the impact the crime has had on their lives. Systems and procedures have been developed to ensure that victim personal statements are drawn to the courts attention. Additionally, under the CPS victim focus scheme, crown prosecutors play a key role in assisting bereaved families to prepare a victim personal statement.

Shoplifting: Prosecutions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions were brought for shoplifting by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The CPS data are only broken down by offences and can only provide prosecutions for theft as an offence. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Ministry of Justice on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 987W.

PRIME MINISTER

Chequers

David Lidington: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the use of Chequers of draft proposals in the National Air Traffic Service's consultation on the use of airspace over South East England.

Gordon Brown: None. I will continue to use Chequers consistent with the Chequers Estate Acts and consistent with the practice of previous administrations.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Gender Equality: Carers

Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on equality between men and women in providing care.

Barbara Follett: As I said in the response to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham (Lyn Brown). We recognise that the majority of caring, around 70 per cent. is done by women. The Prime Minister launched the revised National Carers Strategy on 10 June. It set out a £255 million package of support for carers. Throughout the development of this strategy I had discussions with ministerial colleagues about support for men and women.

WALES

Council Tax: Rates and Rating

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 894-95W, on council tax: valuation, how many dwellings in Wales had their council tax banding amended by the 2005 council tax revaluation.

Paul Murphy: Statistics showing the revised property bandings that resulted from the 2005 valuation are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			  Revised A bandings  
			 A 172,006 
			 B 72,088 
			 C 9,523 
			 D 1,549 
			 E 414 
			 F 183 
			 G 59 
			 H 10 
			 I 3 
			   
			  Revised B bandings  
			 A 26,765 
			 B 188,485 
			 C 97,768 
			 D 11,056 
			 E 1,398 
			 F 290 
			 G 110 
			 H 18 
			 I 5 
			   
			  Revised C bandings  
			 A 673 
			 B 23,211 
			 C 155,687 
			 D 69,882 
			 E 13,532 
			 F 1,661 
			 G 317 
			 H 28 
			 I 8 
			   
			  Revised D bandings  
			 A 27 
			 B 671 
			 C 25,300 
			 D 106,606 
			 E 56,818 
			 F 9,689 
			 G 1,303 
			 H 85 
			 I 18 
			   
			  Revised E bandings  
			 A 5 
			 B 32 
			 C 736 
			 D 16,713 
			 E 88,919 
			 F 49,495 
			 G 7,668 
			 H 470 
			 I 79 
			   
			  Revised F bandings  
			 A 1 
			 B 1 
			 C 8 
			 D 301 
			 E 7,060 
			 F 38,314 
			 G 17,163 
			 H 1,377 
			 I 227 
			   
			  Revised G bandings  
			 A 0 
			 B 3 
			 C 3 
			 D 17 
			 E 115 
			 F 3,646 
			 G 22,482 
			 H 9,258 
			 I 2,721 
			   
			  Revised H bandings  
			 A 0 
			 B 2 
			 C 0 
			 D 0 
			 E 2 
			 F 6 
			 G 85 
			 H 806 
			 I 2,487

Council Tax: Rates and Rating

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1682-83W, on council tax: valuation, how many dwellings have changed band since the 2005 revaluation, in terms of moving  (a) up a band or more and  (b) down a band or more.

Paul Murphy: Pursuant to my answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1682-83W, 1.55 per cent. of bandings were changed as a result of challenges during the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2007. All of these changes would have resulted in a property moving down one or more bands as where, on reassessment, no reduction in banding is found to be appropriate, the taxpayer is invited to withdraw their appeal.

Council Tax: Rates and Rating

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the banding amendments that have been made in Cardiff by the Valuation Office Agency subsequent to the 2005 council tax revaluation; and how many dwellings in Cardiff have seen their original bandings move to a higher band.

Paul Murphy: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost at the moment but the Valuation Office Agency are currently developing the capability to provide this information and it will available in due course.

Council Tax: Rates and Rating

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role the Welsh Assembly Government plays in the valuation of properties for council tax purposes; and how responsibilities are divided between the Valuation Office Agency, Welsh Assembly Government, his Department, the Department for Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury.

Paul Murphy: The Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for local government in Wales and as such can request the revaluation of properties within the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The Valuation Office Agency is responsible for compiling and maintaining council tax valuation lists for all homes in Wales.
	No other Government body has any responsibility for the valuation of properties in Wales.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Paul Murphy: No Ministers or officials from my Department are attending the Beijing Olympics.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 1 October 2007,  Official Report, column 2352W, on alcoholic drinks: children, if he will break down the figures provided by region.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 February 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The figures for the number of cautions issued and the average fine issued for the offences of selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18, can be found in the following tables, which have been broken down by region.
	
		
			  Number of defendants issued with a caution for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years, by region, England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East 17 5 14 7 2 4 0 3 3 8 
			 North West 63 18 12 8 20 33 27 42 34 27 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 25 7 7 8 1 — 18 21 27 7 
			 East Midlands 7 8 15 16 5 2 3 7 2 0 
			 West Midlands 6 5 3 3 12 2 3 7 11 3 
			 East of England 23 6 7 0 1 11 9 5 0 2 
			 London 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South East 19 9 6 3 4 0 0 3 2 3 
			 South West 4 14 0 0 0 4 2 11 12 8 
			 Wales 6 4 5 8 3 3 1 2 7 0 
			 England and Wales 171 76 69 53 48 59 63 101 98 58 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions : Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(1). Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing Act 2003 S.146 Sale of alcohol to person under 18. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Court proceedings data held by CJEA - Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Average fine levied for offences of selling alcohol to persons under 18, by region, all courts, England and Wales, 1997 to 2006, England and Wales 
			  Average fine amount (£) 
			  Offences  Region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises; Sale of alcohol to person under 18 North East 321 237 164 110 118 250 259 221 204 443 
			  North West 129 233 254 256 244 201 209 220 212 252 
			  Yorkshire and Humberside 129 120 193 217 244 221 100 226 183 213 
			  East Midlands 150 - 225 375 300 404 247 259 262 283 
			  West Midlands 351 228 185 108 160 240 253 209 209 340 
			  East of England 172 168 186 370 125 400 306 169 302 332 
			  London 210 280 180 200 200 350 306 288 284 312 
			  South East 314 317 175 250 250 183 306 281 361 282 
			  South West 150 167 220 450 250 330 323 272 207 353 
			  Wales 186 181 229 267 100 250 211 192 243 335 
			  Total 227 212 194 206 208 249 253 237 246 305 
			  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected are subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  OMS, Analytical Services

Broadcasting: Political Impartiality

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent research has been undertaken by Ofcom on impartiality in news reporting in public service broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: This is a matter for Ofcom. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chef Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the current financial year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The chart of accounts for 2008-09 reflects the Department's structure for the year and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure or that for future years. The chart shows the relationship between parent codes (used for preparing resource accounts) and child codes (used for more detailed management purposes). Each code has a brief description. I am arranging for copies of this document to be deposited in the House Libraries.
	The Department intends to review its chart of accounts during the summer, which may result in changes to the chart or the descriptions used.

Football: Broadcasting

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the UK statement of intervention in  (a) FIFA's challenge to the European Commission's re-verification of the Belgian listed events regime and  (b) FIFA's and UEFA's challenges to the re-verification of the UK listed events regime.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I do not intend to publish the UK's Statement in Intervention in relation to FIFA's challenge to the European Commission's re-verification of the Belgian list of events. The content of pleadings before the Court of First Instance is confidential and no third party may have access to this without the authorisation of the President of the Court of First Instance after the parties have been heard.
	The UK has indicated its intention to intervene in the FIFA and UEFA challenges to the re-verification of the UK's list of events. However, Statements in Intervention in those cases are not yet due to be submitted to the Court.

Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what funds his Department has allocated to events to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012;
	(2)  what plans his Department has made for the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.

Margaret Hodge: We are in discussions with the Royal Household as to how to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.

Television: Sight Impaired

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage the introduction of talking menus for television services provided from digital platforms to assist the visually impaired.

Andy Burnham: A range of organisations and TV manufacturers are working on the technical development of talking menus for the mainstream TV market. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is supportive of this work and BERR, through their Usability Action Plan, will help in the promotion of products at the appropriate time.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not separately record the purchase of desks and chairs from other office furnishings; the total expenditure on office furnishings was:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 9,085 
			 2004-05 32,236 
			 2005-06 33,077 
			 2006-07 15,989 
			 2007-08 13,347

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Absent Voting

Nigel Evans: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what consideration the Commission has given to proposals to increase the integrity of postal ballots at elections.

Peter Viggers: While the Commission believes that recent legislative changes have resulted in improvements in postal ballot integrity, it maintains that further reform is necessary. Specifically, the Commission considers that individual electoral registration will provide a more secure foundation for postal voting in Great Britain. The Commission will continue to issue detailed guidance to all those involved in the electoral process.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House how many staff in her Office are authorised to work from home.

Helen Goodman: Staff and managers are able to consider various forms of flexible working, including home working. Arrangements for home working are made locally by individual line managers and no record is held.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Ministers of Religion: Pay

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners when the Church Commissioners last met the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss the stipendiary pay of parish priests in rural areas.

Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners met with the Archbishop only yesterday at the Annual General Meeting of the Church Commissioners at Lambeth Palace where I took the opportunity to discuss stipend levels.
	I would advise the hon. Lady that the national stipends benchmark is £20,980 but dioceses set their own policy on the application of national recommendations.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biofuels

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the Government's biofuels policy.

Phil Woolas: We have received a number of representations from a range of stakeholders, including hon. Members, environmental and industry bodies, the food sector and the public on various issues concerning biofuels.

Carbon Emissions: Advisory Services

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many enquiries the green homes service pilot has dealt with since 2 April 2008, broken down by type of enquiry.

Joan Ruddock: The number of inquiries dealt with by the Green Homes Service for April and May 2008, (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland), are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   April  May 
			 In-bound telephone calls 31,586 23,019 
			 Total verbal customer contacts 45,737 42,822 
			 Overall customers receiving advice 91,595 70,512 
		
	
	As well as telephone contacts, figures for in-bound telephone calls include face-to-face contact at promotional and awareness-raising events.
	The overall figures for customers receiving advice includes those who have completed a home energy check and received feedback, and those who have contacted the service electronically.
	The type of inquiries are listed as follows:
	 By inquiry type:
	Inbound calls 34 per cent.
	Commit campaign participants 30 per cent.
	Completed Home Energy Check 26 per cent.
	Questionnaires 7 per cent.
	Outbound call 3 per cent.
	Letter/e-mail 1 per cent.
	 By i nquiry topicnot mutually exclusive:
	Energy efficiency 94 per cent.
	Transport 8 per cent.
	Renewables 4 per cent.
	Waste/water 1 per cent.

Climate Change: Arctic

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what forecasts his Department has made of the area of Arctic summer sea ice in each year from 2008 to 2013; on what evidential basis these forecasts have been made; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 929W.

Coastal Areas: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission research on the potential effect of the digging of a deep channel in the Thames adjacent to  (a) the Canvey Island sea defences and  (b) the Sir Richard Montgomery ammunition ship wreck; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The dredging of the Thames to provide navigation, manoeuvring and berthing depth for the ships using the new port, will be carried out under Tidal Works Approval from the Port of London Authority (PLA). An application for Tidal Works Approval is to be submitted to the PLA shortly. The Environment Agency will be consulted on this application and will consider the impact of the dredging work on the flood defence structures as part of its assessment of the application.
	The navigation channel, which will be deepened to accommodate vessels using the new port, is approximately 2 km from the wreck. D. P. World, the developer of the London Gateway Port, is aware of the existence of the wreck and the company's dredging contractor will have no need to work in close proximity to it.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA encourages staff to develop their skills and capability outside of traditional training courses. Over the past 12 months DEFRA staff had access to a range of management training aligned to the organisation's strategic objectives. Management Information shows that 2,436 core DEFRA staff attended internal training courses in the last financial year.

Dry Stone Walls

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the length and proportion of dry stone walls in each of the national parks in England that is in a ruinous state.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have made no estimate of the length and proportion of dry stone walls in each of the National Parks that are in a ruinous state.

Environment Agency: Manpower

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons contractors have replaced the Environment Agency's electricians, carpenters, welders and divers at its in-house craft workshop in the Thames Region.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency has contracted out craft work of a non-emergency nature. Craft posts required for emergency response at critical assets remain in-house.
	The reasons for contracting out work include:
	contractors are better able to use specialist craft skills;
	reorganisation will provide better value and a more rational structure;
	contractors do this work every day as it is their core business and are more likely to innovate;
	Thames' craft teams are generally small and there were difficulties recruiting and maintaining skills; and
	long-term contractual arrangements provide more certainty about maintenance standards.
	Thames region has largely been able to use current contractors to undertake the work which was previously undertaken in-house. The review has led to no forced redundancies.

Fertilisers: Prices

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to try to mitigate the effects of rising fertiliser prices on farmers.

Jonathan R Shaw: We are aware that current high energy prices are having a knock-on effect on the price of manufactured 'inorganic' fertilisers. Hilary Benn recently discussed this issue when he met the Agricultural Industries Confederation, which represents the UK fertiliser sector. We are alert to the potential impact high fertiliser prices may have on farmers and we will continue to monitor the situation.
	Farmers will need to make greater use of best practice to ensure efficient fertiliser use. Some farmers will also need to consider increased use of 'organic' fertilisers such as manures. Other options include the use of digestate from Anaerobic Digestion.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the National Flood Emergency Framework set out in the Pitt Review on the summer floods of 2007; and when he expects the framework to be implemented.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is preparing the timetable and a project plan with support from the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) and have drawn together a Project Board and terms of reference with a view to implementing a National Framework for flooding over the coming two years.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent in the last 18 months on improving flood defences; and on which defences.

Phil Woolas: Between 1 November 2006 and 31 May 2008 the Environment Agency spent approximately 720 million in England on flood defence related activity including asset maintenance, flood warning, mapping, development control and capital projects. The total capital expenditure was around 316 million, the majority being used to build new defences and improve existing ones.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of public awareness of the need for flood kits and practical home improvements in case of a flood; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: According to DEFRA's own research, only about one-third of flooded households and less than one in 10 non-flooded households have taken any measures to mitigate the effects of flooding and very few have purchased protection measures for their home.
	DEFRA has funded six pilots (at a cost of 500,000) to examine the feasibility of developing a grant scheme for householders on flood resilience. These pilots have just completed and we are expecting their final reports in the near future.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the implementation of a telephone flood warning scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency has delivered a telephone flood warning service since 1996. Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD), implemented in 2006, sends flood warnings by telephone, fax, text, pager, or e-mail to customers registered on the system.
	This system is supported by the Floodline service, operational since 1999, which provides the public with an alternative telephone route to gaining localised flooding information.
	Since June 2007, 73,390 people have registered with FWD. The total number of people now registered on the system is 328,336.
	The Pitt Review interim report recommended that the Environment Agency should work urgently with telecommunications companies to roll-out 'opt-out' telephone flood warning schemes to all homes and businesses liable to flooding, including ex-directory households.
	The Environment Agency is working closely with British Telecom and Ofcom to progress efforts to transfer data from the Emergency Services Database to Flood Warnings Direct. This database has been identified as the most appropriate information source to deliver an 'opt-out' approach for Flood Warnings Direct.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the development of the  (a) draft and  (b) final National Flood Emergency Framework.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is preparing the timetable and a project plan with support from the civil contingencies secretariat (CCS) with a view to implementing a National Framework for flooding over the coming two years.
	While an initial document is expected to be ready to share before the end of the year, the timetable has yet to be finalised. We must ensure that not only a document is produced, but moreover, that each attribute of the framework is delivered during this time frame.

Floods: Utilities

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made to safeguard the critical infrastructure of utility companies from flooding.

Phil Woolas: In response to the Interim Pitt Report, the Government have agreed to set up a Natural Hazards team, dedicated to reducing the disruption caused by natural events to national infrastructure.

Insulation: Waste Disposal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions resulted from illegal disposal of plastic foam insulation containing ozone-depleting substances in each year since 2004.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency have advised that there have been no prosecutions resulting specifically from the illegal disposal of foam insulation containing ozone-depleting substances since 2004.

Livestock: Animal Welfare

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether  (a) his Department and  (b) the Rural Payments Agency has power to impose further sanctions on farmers convicted for cruelty to farm animals.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 16 June 2008
	Anyone may take a prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. On conviction, the maximum penalties available for an offence of unnecessary suffering are a fine of 20,000 or six month's imprisonment, or both. The maximum penalties for failing to provide for the welfare of an animal are a fine of 5,000 or six month's imprisonment, or both.
	The court may, in addition to any other punishment on conviction, deprive a person of ownership of an animal. The court may also disqualify the person convicted from having custody of any animal for such a period as it thinks fit. This could mean a lifetime ban from keeping animals. Additionally, DEFRA may refuse authorisation to transport animals to farmers within three years of conviction for such an offence.
	If Animal Health finds that animal welfare is compromised on the farm of a single farm payment claimant, they may report this as a breach to the RPA (in England), who may apply a penalty reduction in the calendar year in which the breach occurred. While civil (via cross compliance) and criminal proceedings could arise out of the same offence, penalties cannot be applied retrospectively by the RPA in response to the conviction of a claimant for animal welfare offences.

Marine Management Organisation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  for what reasons the proposed Marine Management Organisation will not have responsibility for the registration of fishing vessels;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to transferring  (a) regulation of offshore oil and gas licensing,  (b) regulation of ship-to-ship oil transfer,  (c) regulation of merchant shipping and  (d) registration of fishing vessels to the proposed Marine Management Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The proposed Marine Management Organisation will be the Government's regulator of most activities in the marine environmentwith some exceptions, as set out in the policy document published alongside the draft Marine Bill.
	The Marine Bill White Paper published in March 2007 explained that the current system of licensing oil and gas infrastructure and activity works well, and there is no compelling evidence that integrating it with others would achieve any benefits. The Government therefore intend the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) to remain responsible for delivering this service.
	Similarly, careful consideration has been given by DEFRA and the Department for Transport (DFT) to the relationship between the MMO and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)an executive agency of the Department for Transport, responsible throughout the UK for implementing the Government's maritime safety policy, including the co-ordination of search and rescue at sea, ensuring that ships meet UK and international safety rules, and the environmental control of shipping in UK waters.
	It is important to maintain the MCA as a separate organisation with a clear, single focus on shipping and maritime safety. The regulation of merchant shipping (including ship-to-ship oil transfer) sits firmly within the MCAs remit.
	DEFRA and DfT officials are currently considering whether the MMO should take on responsibility for the registration of fishing vessels which is currently delivered across the UK by MCA alongside the registration of non-fishing vessels.
	Part 1, chapter 3 of the draft Marine Bill provides flexible arrangements to enable the delivery of marine functions by the MMO. This provides a flexible tool which could enable any Secretary of State to enter into an arrangement with the MMO to deliver any marine functions in the future were this considered the most effective and efficient delivery mechanism.
	The MMO will need to develop effective working relationships with a range of other bodies with responsibilities in the marine areaincluding the MCA and BERR. We envisage Memoranda of Understanding being drawn up between the MMO and these other bodies to clarify how they will work together.

Marine Management Organisation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to employ consultants to advise on the creation of the Marine Management Organisation.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA is seeking to follow best practice in establishing the Marine Management Organisation, taking into account the lessons learned from the establishment of other non-departmental public bodies, including Natural England. This includes ensuring appropriate expertise is available and may include the use of consultants if appropriate.
	Consultants are currently engaged in providing an independent recommendation on the location of the headquarters office of the Marine Management Organisation.

Marine Management Organisation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to protect staff of the proposed Marine Management Organisation from personal litigation arising from their discharge of Government functions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the implications for staff of the proposed Marine Management Organisation of being post holders in the organisation rather than Crown servants; and if he make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The proposed Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will be an Executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) and its staff will be public servants. Staff within core Departments and the Marine and Fisheries Agency delivering functions that will transfer to the MMO are civil servants.
	Staff transferring to the MMO would do so under the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice using TUPE principles and there would therefore be no detriment to pay or terms of employment at the point of transfer. Any future changes would only happen through proper consultation with the relevant trade unions.
	The staff of the MMO will have the opportunity to work within an organisation making a significant contribution to the sustainable management of our seasthrough the first marine planning system of its kind in the world, streamlined, modern and fit for purpose licensing regimes and effective, joined up enforcement. The Marine and Fisheries Agency is working to prepare itself as an organisation and its staff to form a solid foundation for the MMO.
	When acting in the course of their duties for the MMO employees will be unlikely to face personal litigation, in the same way that civil servants are unlikely to. Decisions taken are on behalf of the MMO so any potential claim would lie against the MMO not an individual officer. Civil servants only enjoy immunity where Crown immunity applies in specific circumstancesthey have no general immunity.
	The draft Marine Bill does however give specific immunity to Marine Enforcement Officers appointed by the MMO and other enforcement officers. These officers need to be protected when they carry out inspections and investigations out at sea and on land to prevent their freedom to perform their duties being hampered by a fear of legal action being taken against them. The immunity applies so long as the enforcement officers are acting lawfully within their powers.
	This mirrors the position for existing officers, for example, British Sea Fisheries Officers (BSFOs).

Noise: Pollution

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish the National Noise Strategy for England; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government plan to publish for consultation a combined National Noise Strategy for England, covering ambient and neighbourhood noise, later this year.

Pesticides: EU Action

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will support proposed EU legislation to ban crop protection products that are carcinogens, mutagens, reprotoxic, endocrine disrupters or bio-accumulating toxins.

Phil Woolas: The Government agree that plant protection products should be properly controlled, and supports much of the proposed regulation, particularly where it would improve harmonisation and help level the playing field in pesticide availability. The Government are, however, concerned that these proposals for hazard 'cut-off' criteria could remove some active substances which are very important for agriculture and horticulture, but without securing any meaningful benefit in terms of consumer safety. We are pressing for changes to address these concerns.

Pigs

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support his Department is providing to pig farmers and the pig industry; and what account he has taken of soya and grain prices in determining the level of such support.

Jonathan R Shaw: The economic difficulties faced by pig producers in the last year have been driven by a number of factors, in particular the rising cost of feed ingredients. On feed, the UK has supported the Commission's measures aimed at reducing market pressure, including the suspension for a further year of import duties on feed grains, the re-selling of the remaining intervention stocks of grain and the removal of the requirement for farmers to set-aside land for the 2008 harvest.
	DEFRA has been supportive of the pig industry and we worked together to reopen markets outside the EU following the FMD outbreak in 2007. DEFRA also provided, after that outbreak, a 12.5 million aid package to the livestock farming sector, including 2 million to promote the marketing of pork and other red meat.
	However, the long-term sustainability of the pig sector will depend on its ability to compete successfully in the market place, with performance, quality and welfare standards as essential factors. The price for pig products is a matter for the market to decide, as long as competition law is being complied with.

Pigs

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with Scottish counterparts on assisting pig farmers with input costs; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: My Department is in regular contact with Scottish counterparts on issues affecting the pig and livestock issues, including UK support for Commission measures to ameliorate market pressures on the cost of feed.

Pitt Review

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether the 34.5 million commitment to implement the recommendations of the Pitt Review on Flooding is in addition to or included in the cost of implementing the urgent recommendations of the Pitt Review;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost of implementing each of the recommendations of the Pitt Review on Flooding; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent to date on implementing the urgent recommendations of the Pitt Review on Flooding.

Phil Woolas: The initial provision of 34.5 million has been set aside to fund work arising from the Pitt Review. This will not necessarily cover all the recommendations, and is subject to further review. We will determine how this should be spent when we see the final Pitt Report and the priorities which it contains.
	None of the 34.5 million has so far been allocated. The costs spent to date on implementing the urgent recommendations have been absorbed by the bodies to which they fell so it is not possible to provide a precise figure.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Our current assessment is that the level of demand for the services provided by core DEFRA and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies to be provided in the Welsh language is falling slightly. This assessment is based on a comparison of the number of requests received by DEFRA's Translation Section to translate documents into Welsh in financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08, set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of requests received 
			  Financial year  Core department  Agencies and NDPBs  Total 
			 2006-07 32 46 78 
			 2007-08 22 38 60

World Environment Day

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department took to mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2008.

Phil Woolas: World Environment Day 2008 focused on moving towards a low carbon economy, complementing DEFRA's Act On CO2 campaign, which encourages behavioural change and increased understanding of the link between CO2 emissions and climate change. The Act On CO2 calculator helps people to work out and reduce their carbon footprint. To coincide with World Environment Day, DEFRA announced that the calculator received its one millionth unique visitor.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg. Discussions focused on EU-wide emissions targets, the Carbon Trading scheme, and vehicle emissions targets.
	To mark World Environment Day, I attended and spoke at the UK Final of Microsoft's Imagine Cup, a global award scheme for young British entrepreneurs who are engaging with climate change.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste (Joan Ruddock) attended the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and Birmingham city council's joint climate change festival and gave a speech welcoming the launch of the city council's Climate Change Strategy. The Minister also visited one of the 38 schools in Birmingham that marked World Environment Day by showing first hand how teachers were integrating messages about climate change into the national curriculum.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the modifications which could be made to Land Rovers to give greater security to troops operating in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bob Ainsworth: The protection available to the Land Rover fleet is under constant review. A number of improvements have been made to provide ballistic and blast protection and further programmes are under way to provide additional protection enhancements within the limits of the vehicle capability. I am withholding the details of these measures as release would or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many armed forces personnel were placed on standby for deployment prior to the planned firefighters' strike in 2005;
	(2)  how many armed forces personnel were deployed in support of responses to the foot and mouth outbreaks in  (a) 2001 and  (b) 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: During the national fire fighters' strikes in 2002 and 2003 approximately 19,000 members of the armed forces, drawn from the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force were deployed to provide fire cover at the request of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
	In 2005, armed forces were deployed to provide fire cover at the request of ODPM during two industrial disputes. In Suffolk, 115 personnel were deployed and in the west midlands 451 personnel were deployed to provide fire cover.

Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial have taken place in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of individuals who have been tried by court martial in each calendar year since 2001.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001 810 
			 2002 625 
			 2003 610 
			 2004 635 
			 2005 800 
			 2006 730 
			 2007 760 
			 2008(1) 320 
			 (1) As at 31 May.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Armed Forces: Dorset

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which military units of company strength or larger are based  (a) temporarily and  (b) permanently in the county of Dorset.

Bob Ainsworth: The following military units of company strength, and above, are based in Dorset:
	
		
			  Serial  Unit  Location 
			 1 'A' Squadron Royal Wessex Yeomanry Bovington 
			 2 233 Transport Squadron, 155 Transport Regiment (V) Poole 
			 3 Defence College of Command and Information Systems Blandford 
			 4 Royal School of Signals Blandford 
			 5 11 Signal Regiment Blandford 
			 6 HQ Blandford Garrison Blandford 
			 7 HQ Signal Officer in Chief Blandford 
			 8 Defence Fuels Group and School of Petroleum Wimbourne 
			 9 HQ Bovington Garrison Bovington 
			 10 HQ Armoured Centre and Royal Armoured Corps Training Centre Bovington 
			 11 Gunnery School and HQ Lulworth Station Wareham 
			 12 Armoured Support Company (Royal Marines unit) Bovington 
			 13 1 Assault Group Royal Marines Poole 
			 14 Detachment Royal Marines Reserve Poole 
		
	
	All the units listed are permanently based at the locations shown.

Armed Forces: Fuels

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects of an interruption in fuel supply arising from industrial action on the armed forces;
	(2)  what contingency plans his Department has made for interruptions in supply of fuel arising from industrial action; what collaboration with other Government Departments his Department has undertaken in developing such plans; and whether such plans include further collaboration with other Departments.

Bob Ainsworth: Officials regularly undertake assessments of the Department's predicted fuel usage and assess the impact on Defence outputs of any shortages. In the event of extreme disruptions to the fuel supply, Defence activities would be considered alongside wider Government priorities and fuel supplies would be allocated accordingly.
	Defence has a standing contingency plan to ensure that it is able to maintain its core outputs in the event of fuel disruption, regardless of its cause. Defence officials are in regular contact with officials in other Government Departments, in particular the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) who are the lead Government Department for these types of incidents. The contingency plans are currently being updated to reflect the latest version of the National Emergency Plan for Fuel which has been published by BERR.
	The Cabinet Office's Civil Contingencies Secretariat co-ordinates the Government's approach to planning for and responding to all civil contingencies. As a central Government Department, the MOD routinely takes part in this work.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Congleton on 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2553W, on armoured fighting vehicles, on which date his Department signed the contract to procure Ridgeback vehicles.

Bob Ainsworth: The vehicles are being supplied under a Foreign Military Sales case and the US Marine Corps Systems Command is responsible for the contract with Force Protection Industries Inc. The contract for the base vehicles was awarded on 19 May 2008.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Spare Parts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the percentage shortfall in availability of spare parts for each type of  (a) armoured and  (b) protected vehicle in the Army.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required,  (b) actual and (c) actual personnel medically fit for purpose strength for each battalion of the infantry is.

Bob Ainsworth: The figures requested are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Division  Unit  Required strength  Actual strength  Fit for purpose strength 
			 Guards 1 Grenadier Guards 580 491 429 
			  1 Coldstream Gds 627 563 505 
			  1 Scots Guards 760 595 485 
			  1 Irish Guards 636 570 481 
			  1 Welsh Guards 631 588 515 
			 Scots 1 Scots 633 628 534 
			  2 Scots 566 449 405 
			  3 Scots 535 470 389 
			  4 Scots 760 642 562 
			  5 Scots 654 560 514 
			 Queens 1 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment 760 658 625 
			  2 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment 616 578 481 
			  1 Royal Regt Fusiliers 753 649 613 
			  2 Royal Regt Fusiliers 623 530 469 
			  1 Royal Anglian 670 691 592 
			  2 Royal Anglian 627 629 582 
			 Kings 1 Lancs 741 666 569 
			  2 Lancs 664 737 679 
			  1 Yorks 633 541 505 
			  2.YORKS 627 501 428 
			  3 Yorks 684 547 453 
			 PoW 1 Mercian 627 513 436 
			  2 Mercian 620 555 510 
			  3 Mercian 690 564 467 
			  1 Royal Welsh 625 509 438 
			  2 Royal Welsh 756 647 543 
			 Rifles 1 Rifles 633 627 572 
			  2 Rifles 615 584 507 
			  3 Rifles 625 602 563 
			  4 Rifles 702 684 566 
			  5 Rifles 760 700 613 
			 RI 1 Royal Irish 654 516 453 
			 Para 2 Para 654 646 589 
			  3 Para 654 607 574 
			 RGR 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles 643 759 681 
			  2 Royal Gurkha Rifles 822 913 839 
		
	
	In addition to the battalions shown in the previous table there are three incremental Guards companies which are primarily for public duties but which can also be used to augment the other Guards battalions as required:
	
		
			  Unit  Required strength  Actual strength  Fit for purpose strength 
			 N Coy Grenadier Gds 108 111 99 
			 7 Coy Coldstream Gds 108 105 95 
			 F Coy Scots Guards 108 127 112 
		
	
	The figures in both tables include personnel filling all roles within each battalion, not just infantrymen. Fit for purpose has been interpreted as fit for primary role.

Defence Equipment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated  (a) cost and  (b) in-service date is of the (i) Astute class submarine, (ii) Type-45 Destroyer and (iii) Nimrod MRA4.

Bob Ainsworth: The estimated costs for the current Astute contract are 3,798 million; for the current Type-45 contract 6,464 million; and for Nimrod MRA4 3,500 million. The first of the Astute class, ASTUTE, has an in-service date of 2009, with AMBUSH following in 2010, and ARTFUL in 2012. The estimated in-service date for Type-45 is November 2010, and for Nimrod MRA4 is 2010.

Defence: Inflation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rate of defence inflation was in each of the last five years; and what the forecast figures for the rate of defence inflation are in each of the next five years.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD does not produce estimates of defence inflation. Work is currently under way to explore whether it might be possible to develop a robust and reliable index of inflationary pressures in defence.

Departmental Recruitment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure on recruitment video filming was in each year since 2003; and where each such video was filmed.

Bob Ainsworth: The costs of armed forces recruitment video filming for each year since 2003-04 was:
	
		
			   million 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Naval Service 0.000 0.210 0.034 0.111 0.085 
			 Army 0.034 1.001 2.839 2.444 2.246 
			 RAF 0.594 0.897 0.190 1.186 0.472 
			 Total 0.628 2.108 3.063 3.741 2.803 
		
	
	Location details, where available, broken down by service, are as follows:
	
		
			   Naval Service  Army  RAF 
			   Cost  ( million )  Location  Cost  ( million )  Location  Cost  ( million )  Location 
			 2003-04 0.000 Not applicable 0.364 UK 0.594 RAF Cottesmore and RAF Halton 
			 2004-05 0.020 UK RN/RM establishments 1.001 UK 0.897 South Africa and UK 
			  0.000 Internal production 
			  0.062 UK RN/RM establishments 
			  0.060 UK RN/RM establishments 
			  0.068 UK RN/RM establishments 
			 2005-06 0.034 UK (for Admiralty Interview Board) 0.639 Wales 0.190 RAF Brize Norton and RAF Leuchars 
			1.259 UK and Chile   
			0.941 Canada and Mount Everest   
			 2006-07 0.060 UK RN/RM establishments 1.025 Cyprus 1.186 RAF Cranwell and Afghanistan 
			  0.051 UK RN/RM establishments 0.045 London   
			0.251 UK   
			0.278 Various locations (UK and overseas)   
			0.693 Various locations (UK and overseas)   
			0.152 Various locations (UK and overseas)   
			 2007-08 0.000 Internal production 0.940 Salisbury 0.472 UK, Cyprus and RAF Honnington 
			  0.052 UK RN/RM establishments 0.347 Wales and Salisbury   
			0.642 UK   
			  0.033 UK RN/RM establishments plus New York/Dubai/Sydney/Oslo 0.317 Afghanistan/Ghana/Sierra Leone/Iraq/Kosovo/Bosnia   
		
	
	Information regarding MOD civilian recruitment video expenditure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Standards

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who set the targets in the Spring Performance Report; and what steps he plans to take as a result of PSA Target Two not being met.

Bob Ainsworth: The targets in the Spring Performance Report were set by the Government as part of the 2004 Spending Review Public Service Agreement covering the period April 2005 to March 2008.
	The MOD will continue to play an active role in the work of the new cross-government funds for conflict prevention work around the world: the Conflict Prevention Pool and the Stabilisation Aid Fund that were established in the recent comprehensive spending review settlement.

EH101 Helicopters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Merlin Mark 1 helicopters are  (a) in and  (b) not in service; and what the status is of those not in service.

Bob Ainsworth: For the purposes of this answer 'in service' has been taken to mean those helicopters in the Forward Fleet, available to the Front Line Commands for training and operations. 'Not in service' has been taken to mean those helicopters in the Depth Fleet, in depth maintenance/storage, trials and undergoing upgrades.
	The number of Merlin Mk1 helicopters 'in service' as at 16 June 2008 is 23.
	There are 19 Merlin Mk1 helicopters 'not in service', of which, 13 are in depth maintenance facility, four are trialling new equipment and two are undergoing upgrades.

Falkland Islands: Defence

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of defence of the Falkland Islands was in each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: In each of the last three years the costs to the Chief of Joint Operations, who is responsible for maintaining UK forces in the Falkland Islands, are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost ( million) 
			 2005-06 143.3 
			 2006-07 65.0 
			 2007-08 67.8 
		
	
	The reason for the much lower figures in the last two financial years is that, as a consequence of a change in MOD accounting policy, the Chief of Joint Operations is no longer responsible for reporting fixed asset depreciation costs and the cost of capital on fixed assets.

Falkland Islands: Defence

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of operating the Falklands airbridge was in each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: The contract for the provision of the airbridge to the Falkland Islands is currently under review. I am therefore withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Fuels

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1492W, on fuels, 
	(1)  what percentage of the 80 million was paid for from the Treasury Reserve;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on fuel in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08, broken down by type of fuel;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the effect on the cost of British military operations abroad of each US $1 increase in the price of oil.

Bob Ainsworth: We are currently collating the necessary information. I will write to the hon. Member once this process is complete.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Polish,  (b) Ukrainian,  (c) Pakistani and  (d) Sri Lankan national military personnel are undertaking active service with UK armed forces in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.

Des Browne: There are no formed units from the nations listed in the question. It is possible that a very small number of exchange officers could be operating with UK forces, but this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contacts there were between British forces and anti-coalition militia in Iraq in each month since February 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of recorded attacks on Coalition forces in Multi-National Division (South East) per month since February 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of contacts 
			 February 2008 34 
			 March 2008 44 
			 April 2008 28 
			 May 2008 12 
		
	
	It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, separately to identify attacks exclusively against British forces.
	These figures are inevitably an estimate of attack levels and are subject to refinement as information is processed and verified.

Jordan: Nuclear Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with authorities in  (a) Aqaba and  (b) Crete on incidents involving accidents to British nuclear submarines and their subsequent actions in response to those accidents; what plans were put into effect following these incidents by those authorities; and what equipment the Government made available to those authorities to deal with the incidents.

Bob Ainsworth: Following the recent grounding of HMS Superb, UK Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials had discussions with the appropriate Jordanian and Greek authorities prior to HMS Superb's visits to Aqaba and Crete. Support was received in both ports to conduct damage assessments.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average age of the  (a) C-130J and  (b) C-130K will be in 2010.

Bob Ainsworth: Of the current RAF Hercules fleet that are expected to be in service in 2010 the average age will be: C-130J11 years and C-130K42 years as at January 2010.

Military Exercises

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which training exercises were cancelled in 2007-08; and what percentage of all exercises this represents.

Bob Ainsworth: During the period 2007-08, 76 (10.5 per cent.) of the 722 training exercises scheduled in the Defence Exercise Programme were cancelled. The cancelled exercises are as follows:
	
		
			   Name  Start  End 
			 1 Batus Run 07-1 20 August 2007 8 September 2007 
			 2 Bright Star 07/08 1 November 2007 14 November 2007 
			 3 Coop Archer 07 11 June 2007 22 June 2007 
			 4 Dapex 07 19 November 2007 23 November 2007 
			 5 Dragons Nest 07 21 May 2007 27 May 2007 
			 6 Ecadex 07 2 July 2007 10 July 2007 
			 7 Fac(A) Trg 07 1 June 2007 14 June 2007 
			 8 Frairex-1 07 21 May07 30 May 2007 
			 9 Fwit 07 2 June 2007 15 June 2007 
			 10 Green Flag West 08-4 20 February 2008 7 March 2008 
			 11 Harding Flame 07-1 29 June 2007 13 July 2007 
			 12 Harding Flame 07-2 17 September 2007 28 September 2007 
			 13 Joint Venture 07/08 1 May 2007 31 May 2007 
			 14 Jrtc 07-1 9 September 2007 17 September 2007 
			 15 Jtfex 07 15 July 2007 25 July 2007 
			 16 Lone Victor 07 3 August 2007 10 August 2007 
			 17 Maple Flag 40-1 13 May 2007 25 May 2007 
			 18 Maple Flag 40-3 11 June 2007 22 June 2007 
			 19 Patriot 07 9 July 2007 22 July 2007 
			 20 Red Flag 08-2.1 13 January 2008 26 January 2008 
			 21 Red Flag 08-2.2 2 February 2008 15 February 2008 
			 22 Snow Falcon 08 10 January 2008 25 January 2008 
			 23 Spontex 08-1 12 March 2008 23 March 2008 
			 24 Templar Forge 07-3 13 July 2007 30 July 2007 
			 25 Tlp 07-4 6 August 2007 31 August 2007 
			 26 Trident Fury 07 7 May 2007 18 May 2007 
			 27 Uhlan Barbara 07 1 October 2007 7 October 2007 
			 28 Virtual Flag 07-3 7 May 2007 18 May 2007 
			 29 Volcanex 07 13 June 2007 22 June 2007 
			 30 Wycombe Warrior 06-07 day 1 19 June 2007 21 June 2007 
			 31 Coop Mako 07 1 September 2007 14 September 2007 
			 32 Lemon Sole 1/07 16 April 2007 20 Apr 2007 
			 33 Able Ally 07/08 1 November 2007 30 November 2007 
			 34 Bald Eagle 07/08 1 April 2007 14 Apr 2007 
			 35 Bass Rock 07/08 1 May 2007 15 May 2007 
			 36 Britannia Way/Iberian Focus 07/08 1 April 2007 14 Apr 2007 
			 37 Cobb Ring 07/08 14 October 2007 29 October 2007 
			 38 Cossack Steppe (Cac 5-07/08) 1 April 2007 1 July 2007 
			 39 Druids Dance 7-07/08 26 November 2007 16 December 2007 
			 40 Druids Dance 9-07/08 18 February 2008 9 March 2008 
			 41 Fingals Cave 07/08 1 May 2007 1 October 2007 
			 42 Flying Rose 2-07/08 1 July 2007 31 July 2007 
			 43 Global Kukri 07/08 19 November 2007 30 November 2007 
			 44 Grand Prix 1-08/09 10 March 2008 26 Apr 2008 
			 45 Grand Prix 2-07/08 26 October 2007 16 December 2007 
			 46 Grand Prix 3-07/08 28 January 2008 20 March 2008 
			 47 Lion Star 1-07/08 1 April 2007 14 Apr 2008 
			 48 Lion Star 2-07/08 7 May 2007 21 May 2007 
			 49 Lion Star 3-07/08 19 May 2007 2 June 2007 
			 50 Lion Star 4-07/08 2 June 2007 16 June 2007 
			 51 Lion Sun 1-07/08 18 April 2007 16 May 2007 
			 52 Lion Sun 10-07/08 12 September 2007 10 October 2007 
			 53 Lion Sun 11-07/08 19 September 2007 17 October 2007 
			 54 Lion Sun 12-07/08 1 January 2008 29 February 2008 
			 55 Lion Sun 13-07/08 1 January 2008 29 February 2008 
			 56 Lion Sun 14-07/08 1 February 2008 31 March 2008 
			 57 Lion Sun 2-07/08 25 April 2007 23 May 2007 
			 58 Lion Sun 3-07/08 30 May 2007 27 June 2007 
			 59 Lion Sun 4-07/08 20 June 2007 18 July 2007 
			 60 Lion Sun 5-07/08 27 Jun 2007 25 July 2007 
			 61 Lion Sun 6- 07/08 18 July 2007 15 August 2007 
			 62 Lion Sun 7-07/08 25 July 2007 8 August 2007 
			 63 Lion Sun 8-07/08 15 August 2007 12 September 2007 
			 64 Lion Sun 9-07/08 22 August 2007 19 September 2007 
			 65 Readiness Challenge 06/07 1 March 2007 1 Apr 2007 
			 66 Romanian Express (Cac 7-07/08) 1 May 2007 1 October 2007 
			 67 Cme/Cmx 07 11 September 2007 21 September 2007 
			 68 Steadfast Nerve 07 2 May 2007 11 May 2007 
			 69 1 Acc Wti 07 1 September 2007 23 September 2007 
			 70 Bold Avenger 07 3 September 2007 14 September 2007 
			 71 Jagged Flame 07-1 13 August 2007 26 August 2007 
			 72 Lone Fin 08 5 March 2008 16 March 2008 
			 73 Lone Frame 07 15 October 2007 28 October 2007 
			 74 Maxeval 07 11 April 2007 13 May 2007 
			 75 Opeval 07 5 September 2007 6 October 2007 
			 76 Cyprus Forum 06 1 February 2007 30 Apr 2007

Redcliffe Bay Oil Storage Depot: Security

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 180W, on fuels, how many incidents of security breaches at the Redcliffe Bay oil storage depot site near Portishead have been reported in the last five years; and on what date each such breach was identified.

Bob Ainsworth: During the period 1 June 2003 to 1 June 2008, two security breaches have been reported on 15 July 2005 and 15 April 2008 respectively.

Reserve Forces: Recruitment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) target and  (b) actual recruitment to the (i) Territorial Army, (ii) Royal Marines Reserves, (iii) Royal Navy Reserve and (iv) Royal Air Force Reserves was in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows intake to the Territorial Army. Calendar year 2004 is the earliest year for which reliable TA intake data are available. Recruitment targets are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Intake( 1)  against target for the Territorial Army( 2) 
			   Intake  Target( 3) 
			  Calendar year   
			 2004 7,690  
			 2005 8,650  
			 2006 8,560  
			
			  January to February 2007( 4) 1,020  
			 (1) Intake figures include all intake e.g. intake from civil life and intake from other parts of the armed forces, but does not include the inflow of personnel returning from mobilisation. (2) The data exclude Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS) and Mobilised TA but includes the Officer Training Corps (OTC). (3) Territorial Army targets were the responsibility of individual units and not held centrally until 2007. (4) Due to ongoing data validation following the introduction of the new Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) System, there is no TA intake information available since 1 March 2007. As such the figure for 2007 represents the period 1 January 2007 to 28 February 2007.  Note: Data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.  Source: DASA (Army) 
		
	
	The following table shows intake to the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marine Reserve against target intake.
	
		
			  Intake against target for the Royal Naval Reserve( 1)  and Royal Marine Reserve( 2) 
			   Royal Naval Reserve  Royal Marine Reserve 
			   Intake  Target  Intake  Target 
			 2001-02 680 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2002-03 550 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2003-04 280 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2004-05 200 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2005-06 270 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2006-07 170 450 140 250 
			 2007-08 160 580 240 500 
			 n/a = Not available (1) Royal Naval Reserve intake data are not held centrally prior to April 2001. Recruitment targets are not held centrally prior to April 2006. (2) Royal Marine Reserve data are not held centrally prior to April 2006  Note: Data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.  Source: Fleet DNPERS 
		
	
	The following table shows intake to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force against target intake.
	
		
			  Intake( 1)  against target for the Royal Auxiliary Air Force 
			  Financial year  Intake  Target 
			 2003-04 260 500 
			 2004-05 260 500 
			 2005-06 240 500 
			 2006-07 320 500 
			 2007-08 330 480 
			 (1) Royal Auxiliary Air Force intake data are not held centrally and consequently recruitment data against targets are not available prior to April 2003 without incurring disproportionate cost.  Note: Data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.  Source: Air Personnel

Type 45 Destroyers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest date is by which a seventh Type 45 destroyer would have to be ordered to avoid an interruption in production.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 22 May 2008
	Following the Department's 2008 planning round, we no longer intend to take up the option to place orders for further Type 45 warships beyond the six already on contract. Instead, we plan to bring forward the timetable for the introduction of the Future Surface Combatant which is intended to provide replacements for the Type 22 and Type 23 frigates. This, together with the Carrier and Astute programmes, will balance the volume of construction workload across maritime programmes to ensure retention of key capabilities and viability of the business that delivers them.

Type 45 Destroyers: Deployment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Type 45 destroyers will be able to be deployed simultaneously if the total built is  (a) six,  (b) seven and  (c) eight; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 20 May 2008
	For a fleet of six Type 45 destroyers we would expect that one ship would usually be in deep maintenance, leaving up to five available for deployment at various states of readiness. Following the Department's 2008 planning round, we no longer intend to take up the option to place orders for further Type 45 warships.

Warships: Guided Weapons

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which ships he plans to remove Sea Dart missiles in the next 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer question 206627 on 14 May 2008, on Type 45 destroyer production.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 13 June 2008
	I replied to the hon. Member today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bangladesh: Elections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the progress of the caretaker government towards holding free and fair elections in Bangladesh.

Meg Munn: We welcomed the announcement by the Chief Adviser last month that elections will take place in the third week of December. It is vital that those elections are free and fair. We call on all sides now to show a spirit of co-operation and a commitment to ensure that the elections take place on time and with full participation.

Departmental ICT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information technology projects are being undertaken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies; what the (i) start date, (ii) original planned completion date, (iii) expected completed date, (iv) originally planned costs and (v) estimated costs are of each; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is running a wide range of information technology-enabled projects. Some are managed centrally while others are initiated and managed by the holders of devolved budgets, both in the UK or at posts overseas. For those centrally managed projects, and groups of projects marshalled together as programmes around a significant business change, the requested details are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Current information technology projects (over 2 million) FCO  Start date  Originally planned completion date  Expected completion date  Originally planned costs ( million)  Estimated costs ( million) 
			 Future Firecrest (Applications, Infrastructure and Migration)(1) February 2005 February 2012 February 2012 332.0 358.0 
			 Electronic Document and Records Management (eRecords/iRecords)(2) September 2004 March 2010 August 2008 26.5 5.1 
			 FCO Web Platform(3) July 2005 November 2008 November 2008 13.5 9.7 
			 FCO Telecommunications Network(FTN) Private Finance Initiative Implementation and service 2000 to 2010(4) May 2000 May 2010 May 2010 180.0 240.0 
			 Ocean (Telecommunications reprocurement)(5) October 2007 May 2010 May 2010 n/a n/a 
			 Prism Simplification(6) February 2008 January 2009 January 2009 6.59 6.59 
			   
			  Agencies (FCO Services, Wilton Park)  
			 None  
			 (1 )The cost of Future Firecrest has been increased by the obligation to implement Central Government security policies instituted after the Future Firecrest contract had been agreed. Savings elsewhere in the programme, of which this forms a part, mean that there is no overall cost increase to the FCO and the programme remains within the budget approved in the business case. (2 )The scope of iRecords has been reduced in the light of financial constraints. (3 )The scope and hence costs were reduced on examination of the full business case. (4) FTN is a service, chargeable by usage. The additional cost reflects a demand that has increased significantly since the original estimates of traffic volumes were drawn up in 2000. Unit costs have been reduced, but this is obscured in the headline figure. (5 )Ocean is led by the FCO; the scope includes the re-procurement of the FTN, but also the cross-Government Managed Telephony Service and the Government Secure Intranet. The programme is still being scoped, and hence is in the process of developing a full project cost. (6 )Implementation of the Prism system was completed in May 2006, two months later than originally planned, and the implementation programme was closed at the end of March 2007 following the recommendation of an Office of Government Commerce Gateway Review. This new project is concerned with developing a simplified structure, enabling reduced support costs and simpler business processes. Costs have yet to be formally approved.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) consultancy,  (b) design and development and  (c) other costs of redesigning his Department's website were.

Jim Murphy: The breakdown of costs involved in setting up the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's new departmental website was given in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written response of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1772-73W.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had a Green Travel Procedure for commuting and business travel since March 2006. A copy of the Green Travel Procedure will be placed in the Library of the House.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Iranian authorities on the recent arrests of Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Neimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, members of the Iranian Baha'i community, on 14 May; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government are deeply concerned by the arrests of the informal Baha'i leadership in Tehran on 14 May and the ongoing persecution of the Iranian Baha'i community. On receiving reports of these arrests, and following a recommendation by the UK, the EU issued a public declaration on 21 May which reiterated the EU's serious concern about the harassment of Iranian Baha'is on the grounds of their religion and called on Iran to
	uphold fully the right to adopt and practise a religion of choice, to end the persecution of the Baha'i community, and to release the detained individuals.
	We will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities and have recommended that the EU presidency should do so again in its next meeting with the Iranian authorities in Tehran.
	We regularly raise our concerns about human rights, including the treatment of Baha'is in Iran, in our bilateral contacts with the Iranian authorities and through the EU. We raise human rights with the Government of Iran through the EU in order to emphasise that our concerns are shared across a range of countries

Malawi: Diplomatic Service

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the requirements of article 2(1)(a) of the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991  (a) have been or  (b) will be made the subject of an exception under Schedule 2 of the Order in the case of the appointment of the right hon. Jack McConnell MSP as the next High Commissioner to Malawi.

Meg Munn: Mr. McConnell's appointment will be made under the terms of Article 2(2) and Schedule 2(2) of the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991, which expressly allow exceptions to the normal method of appointment.

Papua: Politics and Government

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters relating to West Papua he plans to discuss with the President of Indonesia during his forthcoming visit to Jakarta; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Unfortunately, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had to postpone his proposed visit to Indonesia.

Republic of Ireland: Treaty of Lisbon

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) the Irish Government and  (b) other EU member state governments on whether the Irish Republic may be given special dispensation not to sign the Lisbon treaty.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House on 16 June on the result of the referendum in Ireland on the Lisbon treaty. The statement followed discussions with his counterparts at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg on the same day.
	There will be a meeting of the European Council from 19 to 20 June.

TREASURY

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1425W, on council tax: valuation; what data sources are used to value newly built homes for council tax purposes.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the then Minister for Local Government the hon. Member for Oldham, East and Saddleworth (Mr. Woolas) to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research  (a) his Department and  (b) the Valuation Office Agency have commissioned on council tax revaluation in the last 12 months from (i) within his Department and its agencies and (ii) external bodies.

Jane Kennedy: No such research has been commissioned.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Department  Total bonuses (000)  Of which senior civil service (000)  Number of payments 
			 HM Treasury 1,049 551 459 
			 DMO 190 11 69 
			 OGC 268 155 176 
			 OGC.bs 430 39 279 
			 Royal Mint 5 0 3 
			 HMRC 19,056 2,213 55,951 
			 VOA 275 49 479 
			 NS and I 376 126 125 
			 GAD 37 0 98

Financial Services and Markets Act 1999: Human Rights

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Law Officers' advice on the compatibility of the Financial Services and Markets Act 1999 with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Kitty Ussher: There is a long-standing convention, followed by successive Governments, that the Government do not disclose whether the Law Officers have been consulted nor does it disclose the content of Law Officers' advice.

Gateway Review

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government projects received  (a) a red and  (b) an amber/red rating in Gateway reviews in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The Gateway status, for this period, consisted of red, amber and greenamber/red was not a Gateway rating. From January 2003 to the end of December 2007 the following number of projects received red or amber reports from Gateway reviews carried out by the OGC:
	
		
			   Number of projects with red reviews  Number of projects with amber reviews 
			 2003 64 107 
			 2004 82 132 
			 2005 93 166 
			 2006 96 152 
			 2007 66 146

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether home information packs have been commissioned by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to market a residential property.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury, the Debt Management Office and the Office of Government Commerce have no departmental residential properties.

Housing: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 913W, on housing: valuation, what process was used to calculate the geographical dimensions of each locality.

Jane Kennedy: Geographical dimensions of localities were and are not calculated. I refer the Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 19 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 1600-01W.

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many home repossessions there were in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Kitty Ussher: The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) publishes the total numbers of properties taken into possession, available at:
	http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/statistics.

National Insurance Contributions

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances Class 1 national insurance contributions that have not been paid are treated as having been paid for the purposes of calculating entitlement to additional state pension.

Jane Kennedy: Social Security legislation prescribes that unpaid primary Class 1 national insurance contributions (NICs) are treated as paid, for the purpose of entitlement to contributory benefits only (including additional state pension), where it is established that
	the primary Class 1 NICs should have been paid by a secondary contributor (usually the employer); and
	the failure to pay was not with the consent of the employee or due to any negligence on the part of the employee.

National Land and Property Gazetteer

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings in England have a National Land and Property Gazetteer-derived Unique Property Reference Number according to the Valuation Office Agency records.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for Local Government to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1686W.

Public Sector: Pay

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy on public sector pay increases in the 2008 round is; what the maximum permissible increase is; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government's policy is that public sector pay settlements should reflect the individual labour market position of work forces, be consistent with achievement of the Government's CPI inflation target of 2 per cent., be affordable and represent value for money for taxpayers.

Tax Collection: Standards

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what training staff of HM Revenue and Customs are given in applying the Taxpayer's Charter;
	(2)  when the Taxpayer's Charter was last reviewed.

Jane Kennedy: In the past, both Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise arranged separate training for their staff. The Chancellor announced in the last Budget that HMRC will work with interested parties to develop a new taxpayers' charter. This new charter will articulate to staff what is expected of them, helping to reinforce new customer focused working practices. HMRC are currently identifying the training needs necessary to achieve essential culture change.
	The final consultation document on the scope of the charter was published today and is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channels PortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ ConsultationDocumentspropertyType=documentcolumns= 1id=HMCE_PROD1_028675

Taxation: Official Residences

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 796W, on official residences: income tax, what the policy of HM Revenue and Customs is on the income tax liability on the benefit in kind of providing a free ministerial residence to a person who is not a Minister of the Crown; and whether guidance has been issued on this matter.

Jane Kennedy: The tax rules which apply when someone is provided with accommodation because of his or her office or employment are the same for persons occupying free ministerial residences as for other accommodation. HM Revenue and Customs has not issued any guidance on the tax liability of the use of official ministerial residences.

Valuation Office

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 828W, on the Valuation Office, if he will outline how the models differ from each other within the Automated Valuation Model.

Jane Kennedy: The models adopted by the Valuation Office Agency differ from each other in the variables used, the coefficients calibrated and the time at which the models are calibrated.

Valuation Office Agency: Rightmove

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1226W, on the Valuation Office Agency: Rightmove, whether the initial contract between the Valuation Office Agency and Rightmove has now ended; and whether a decision to extend the contract has been made by the Valuation Office Agency;
	(2)  what the status of the contract between the Valuation Office Agency and Rightmove.co.uk plc is.

Jane Kennedy: No contract exists between the Valuation Office Agency and Rightmove. The contract in question is between Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and Rightmove.co.uk Ltd.
	While no further payments are required, the benefits of access to Rightmove's historic records by the Valuation Office Agency, as provided for in the initial contract, remain in place. No decision has been made on extending the contract.

Valuation Office: Freedom of Information

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Valuation Office Agency will provide a substantive response to Freedom of Information Act request 11335561.1/CEO.

Jane Kennedy: A substantive response will be provided shortly.

Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1226W, on Valuation Office Agency: ICT, what sources will be used to supply the geo-spatial data for the Geographic Information System; and whether this will include  (a) ACORN and  (b) MOSAIC data.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 21 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1688W-1689W.

Valuation Office: ICT

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) set-up and  (b) ongoing annual revenue cost of the Valuation Office Agency's TENET mapping software was.

Jane Kennedy: The cost to the Valuation Office Agency of the TENET mapping software (excluding VAT) amounts to:
	 (a) 706,668, for the set up and licences (costs incurred between 1999-2000 and 2005-06); and
	 (b) 87,250 for ongoing maintenance in 2008-09.

Valuation Office: Identity Cards

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental identity cards have been reported lost or stolen in the last 24 months by staff in the Valuation Office Agency.

Jane Kennedy: In the last 24 months five VOA identity cards were reported either lost or stolen.

Valuation Office: Rightmove

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been allocated by the Valuation Office Agency for payments to Rightmove.co.uk plc in 2008-09.

Jane Kennedy: No payments have been specifically allocated by the Valuation Office Agency to this company.

Welfare Tax Credits: Correspondence

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many annual tax credit documentation letters were sent in duplicate to both members of the same household in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issue one annual renewal pack per household if a reply is required.
	For cases where a reply is not required then one form is sent to each adult claimant in a household playing back the information that HMRC proposes to use to finalise and renew their claim. These are then automatically renewed using these details unless the customer provides updated information by the renewals deadline.
	In 2007, HMRC issued renewal packs for around 4.1 million 'reply required' claims plus notices for around 2.4 million claims for claims they proposed to renew automatically. It is not possible to say how many of those were issued to joint claimant households. Tax credits notices contain all the information used to calculate an award and it is a requirement of the primary legislation that when HMRC make a decision about tax credit entitlement, they send a notice setting out the decision to each of the partners in a joint claim.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Carbon Sequestration

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received from the Royal Society in respect of the role of carbon capture and storage in combating climate change.

Malcolm Wicks: I receive many representations from a wide range of organisations, including recently the Royal Society, in respect of the role of carbon capture and storage in combating climate change.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received from residents of Southend-on-Sea on the proposed new coal power station at Kingsnorth; what response he has made; if he will place in the Library a copy of each such representation; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: This information is not available. The Department has not categorised any of the representations received by geographical location.

Energy Supply

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with  (a) power generation companies,  (b) gas distribution companies and  (c) Energy Watch on the cost of energy supplies to domestic consumers.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with companies in the energy sector and interest groups where domestic energy prices are discussed.

Energy: Prices

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people in  (a) Wakefield District and  (b) Hemsworth constituency are eligible for social tariffs from energy suppliers.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available. Energy suppliers voluntarily provide a range of assistance to households vulnerable to fuel poverty, including social tariffs. In April the Government secured the individual agreement of the six largest energy suppliers to increase their collective spend on social assistance to 150 million a year by 2010-11. This will be spent on a number of initiatives including social tariffs, rebates and trust funds.

Nuclear Power Stations: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the resilience of nuclear power stations to flooding.

Malcolm Wicks: UK nuclear power stations are designed to be protected against flooding, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires flood defence plans to be periodically reviewed by site operators. HSE would also require appropriate flood protection measures and flood defence plans for any new nuclear power station in the future.
	The potential impact of flooding would be a relevant consideration in any future siting assessment for any proposed new nuclear build, alongside a range of other considerations. We will be consulting on draft criteria for the Strategic Siting Assessment shortly.

Post Offices: Closures

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what proportion of  (a) post offices within supermarkets and  (b) stand-alone post offices in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex will be closed under the Post Office Network Change Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what annual cash savings the Post Office expects from the closure of post office branches at  (a) 42 Vicarage Road, Maidenhead,  (b) 55 High Street, Wargrave, near Reading and  (c) 49 Wootton Way, Maidenhead.
	(2)  what annual cash savings the Post Office expects from the closure of the post office branch at Knowl Hill Stores, Knowl Hill, near Reading.
	(3)  what annual cash savings the Post Office expects from the closure of the post office branch at 128-130 Cookham Road, Maidenhead.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the right hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Post Offices: Credit Unions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps he has taken to encourage co-operation between post offices and credit unions.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 June 2008
	This is a commercial and operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL) and the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd. (ABCUL) who, I understand, maintain a regular dialogue to explore the opportunities for working together. I also understand that ABCUL use the Co-operative Bank as a channel for credit union current accounts and that the bank's contract with POL enables current account customers of credit unions using this Co-operative Bank service to pay in or withdraw cash and make balance inquiries at post offices.

Post Offices: Standards

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what monitoring of waiting times at post office branches  (a) his Department and  (b) Postcomm performs; what methodology is used; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not carry out any monitoring exercises for waiting times at Post Office branches. Postcomm, the industry regulator, has a limited role in relation to the Post Office network. It monitors the impact of strategic developments in the network, and provides advice to the Secretary of State in the form of an annual report. It is not currently carrying out any research in this area.
	Post Office Ltd. monitors waiting times at branches through its mystery shopper visits. A sample of 1,000 branches are visited on a monthly basis by a mystery shopper and marked against a range of factors, including waiting times. This is to ensure that customer service is being maintained and where branches are identified as falling below standard, this is raised with the sub-postmaster or branch manager.

Private Sector: Renewable Energy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps the Government has taken to encourage private businesses to use energy from renewable sources.

Malcolm Wicks: The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the Government's main mechanism for encouraging new renewable electricity generation with all eligible renewable electricity generation installations able to receive Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). We have announced that under proposed reforms to the RO, microgenerators will be able to claim two ROCs for every one MWh of renewable electricity generated. The Government intend to introduce these changes from 1 April 2009, thus doubling the support they receive through the RO to the highest level available.
	Under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP), with an 86 million budget, around 30 million has been allocated to 6,300 projects, including 6.5 million to 154 projects in the private sector. Although all funding streams for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have now closed to new applicants, we are working closely with the Carbon Trust on a number of private sector projects to raise awareness of the potential for combining microgeneration with energy efficiency to develop low carbon buildings. Further details are available at:
	www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
	Advice is available from a number of sources, including the Carbon Trust who provides site surveys to organisations, including SMEs, looking to reduce their energy demand, save money and manage their carbon emissions more efficiently. Further details are available at:
	www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/sme_toolkit.htm
	Further assistance is available through Business Link at:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	and regional development agencies at:
	www.englandsrdas.com.
	The Renewable Energy Strategy consultation due in the summer will include considerations of the role that microgeneration and distributed energy will play going forward. This will consider a range of possible initiatives such as financial or regulatory instruments, voluntary guidance and providing better information to business and consumers.

Small Businesses: Regulation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform from which regulatory requirements he proposes to exempt those companies with 20 or fewer employees; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: When we published the Enterprise Strategy next to the Budget in March 2008, we announced that the Government will introduce a new approach to help ensure that regulation affecting small firms achieves the outcomes aimed for while minimising unnecessary impacts. This flexible approach includes considering whether small firms can be exempt from requirements without affecting essential protections or if there is scope for simplified enforcement. This will be applied to new regulation currently under development.
	Work already under way to change existing requirements was published in the Enterprise Strategy, a copy of which was placed in the libraries of the House.

Westminster City Council

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grants were made by his Department to Westminster City Council in each year since 2000; and for how much in each case.

Gareth Thomas: The former Department of Trade and Industry made a grant of 3,363.75 to Westminster city council in July 2007, under Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Saville inquiry is due to report; and what his most recent estimate is of the cost of the inquiry.

Shaun Woodward: Lord Saville recently confirmed that the tribunal hopes to submit its report to me by the end of this year or shortly thereafter. I am advised that the cost of the Bloody Sunday inquiry is 183 million as at end April 2008. Based on estimates by the inquiry and the Ministry of Defence, the total cost is expected to be 188 million.

Departmental Pay

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what  (a) salary and  (b) travel and subsistence monies were paid to staff in his Department in each of the last 10 years, broken down by grade.

Shaun Woodward: The Department's financial system can report only on total salaries and corresponding travel and subsistence paid to staff back to 2002-03 (agencies and executive NDPBs are excluded). Details are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   
			   Salaries  Travel and subsistence 
			 2002-03 22,742,636 3,815,724 
			 2003-04 24,834,735 3,754,864 
			 2004-05 26,079,458 3,754,935 
			 2005-06 21,505,996 3,826,540 
			 2006-07 20,812,203 3,822,570 
			 2007-08 20,575,081 3,381,199

Driving Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were convicted for  (a) motoring offences that resulted in a fatality and  (b) careless driving in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 gives the number of convictions for motoring offences causing death, while table 2 gives convictions for careless driving.
	Data cover the calendar years 2004-06 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of convictions for motoring offences causing death 2004-06 
			   Convictions 
			 2004 11 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of convictions for careless driving 2004-06( 1,2) 
			   Convictions 
			 2004 1,738 
			 2005 1,597 
			 2006 1,458 
			 (1) Data do not include careless driving offences causing death. (2) Data do not include reckless driving, furious driving or dangerous driving.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 132W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are  (a) available for purchase at his Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Shaun Woodward: There are no mandatory policy requirements in place for the procurement of Fairtrade products by central Government Departments. However the Government are committed to improving market access to producers in developing countries through increased participation in fair and sustainable supply chains. Each Government Department is responsible for making its own decisions on such products, against the background of the Government's value for money policy, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives.
	My Department operates only one small staff catering facility; no Fairtrade products are currently sold there.
	We have used Fairtrade tea, coffee, and fruit at official engagements. When supply contracts are renewed we are looking to extend the range of goods available.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 132W, on the Fairtrade initiative, in which departmental buildings  (a) Fairtrade products are provided at official meetings and functions and  (b) Fairtrade products are not made available for official meetings and functions.

Shaun Woodward: My Department is responsible for catering at Stormont House and Hillsborough Castle; Fairtrade products are available at both locations.

Offensive Weapons

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people under the age of 18 years were the victim of knife crime in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The following table outlines the number of recorded violent crimes where a knife was used for victims under the age of 18 years for 2003-04 to 2007-08.
	A number of initiatives have been introduced since the last amnesty and are now in operation across Northern Ireland to reduce the level of knife crime. PSNI have rolled out the use of metal detectors and also introduced a stop and search policy. New legislation has been introduced to make it more difficult to obtain knives by raising the minimum age limit for purchase to 18. Last month, it became illegal in Northern Ireland to manufacture, sell, hire or import samurai swords. The recent Criminal Justice (NI) Order contains powers which double the penalties for possessing a knife in public and also for selling/manufacturing/marketing knives to under 18's.
	Knife disposal bins have been retained on site at civic amnesty locations and PSNI education officers continue to raise awareness in schools on a number of key issues, including the dangers of carrying a knife.
	
		
			  Number of violent crimes where a knife was involved in the incident and where the victim was under 18 2003-04 to 2007-08( 1,2,3) 
			   Number 
			 2003-04 104 
			 2004-05 65 
			 2005-06 97 
			 2006-07 84 
			 2007-08 101 
			 (1 )Data are provisional and may be subject to revision. (2) The figures relate to offences where a knife was involved in the incidentit is not known how the knife was actually used. (3) Figures have been provided only in relation to violent crime. Analysis of crime by age of victim is routinely carried out for violent crime offences (offences against the person, sexual offences and robbery) and also for domestic burglary offences. Analysis by age of victim for other crime types is not carried out, as the number of records where the victim age is not available is too high to allow analysis to be meaningful. A small proportion of data are missing for each of the listed years.  Source:  Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Offensive Weapons

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many crimes involving a knife took place in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Paul Goggins: The following table outlines the number of recorded crimes involving a knife broken down by district council area for 2003-04 to 2007-08.
	
		
			  Number of offences where a knife was involved in the incident by district council area 2003-04 to 2007-08( 1,2) 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Antrim 23 35 31 16 35 
			 Ards 23 22 39 24 41 
			 Armagh 14 10 17 13 20 
			 Banbridge 9 13 8 8 14 
			 Belfast 355 354 435 373 303 
			 Ballymena 42 43 43 41 47 
			 Ballymoney 8 10 5 8 2 
			 Carrickfergus 16 20 13 8 34 
			 Coleraine 50 48 56 38 46 
			 Cookstown 3 4 2 4 9 
			 Craigavon 52 55 61 48 90 
			 Castlereagh 22 9 27 20 11 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 8 20 10 3 18 
			 Down 32 29 27 30 18 
			 Fermanagh 11 14 22 15 23 
			 Foyle 54 67 68 63 70 
			 Larne 21 17 14 16 17 
			 Limavady 14 17 22 12 45 
			 Lisburn 27 28 29 23 53 
			 Magherafelt 4 0 1 4 9 
			 Moyle 8 10 5 3 2 
			 Newtownabbey 63 60 67 55 88 
			 North Down 40 54 43 50 20 
			 Newry and Mourne 49 47 58 63 21 
			 Omagh 30 7 19 21 11 
			 Strabane 7 8 8 9 15 
			   
			 Northern Ireland 985 1,001 1,130 968 1,062 
			 (1) Data are provisional and may be subject to revision. (2) The figures relate to offences where a knife was involved in the incidentit is not known how the knife was actually used.  Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNT

Offensive Weapons

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there have been in connection with knife-related crimes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The information is not available in the format requested. Court prosecution and conviction datasets do not contain background information in relation to the commission of an offence so it is not possible to separately identify the number of prosecutions and convictions for offences such as murder in which a knife was involved. It is only possible to provide prosecution and conviction statistics for those offences which, in their definition, refer to an 'offensive weapon' (of which knives will be one sub-category) or 'article with blade or point'.
	These are:
	Armed with offensive weapon with intent to commit offence.
	Possessing offensive weapon in public place.
	Possessing article with blade or point in public place.
	Possessing instrument with intent to commit an offence.
	Possessing article with blade or point on school premises.
	Possessing offensive weapon on school premises.
	Prosecution and conviction data documented in the following table cover the calendar years 2002-06 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Prosecutions and convictions for offensive weapons 2002 - 06 
			   Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 2002 198 161 
			 2003 236 179 
			 2004 211 181 
			 2005 264 209 
			 2006 317 242

Offensive Weapons

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many victims of knife crime in Northern Ireland there were in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The data are not available in the format requested. The following table outlines the number of assaults where a knife was involved between 2003-04 and 2007-08.
	
		
			  Number of assaults recorded where a knife was involved in the incident 2003-04 to 2007-08( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Assaults where knife involved 
			 2003-04 292 
			 2004-05 272 
			 2005-06 320 
			 2006-07 260 
			 2007-08 423 
			 (1 )Data are provisional and may be subject to revision. (2 )The figures relate to offences where a knife was involved in the incidentit is not known how the knife was actually used. (3 )The assault figures include offences of wounding with intent, GBH with intent, wounding, GBH, AOABH, aggravated assault, common assault and assault on police. The data include offences where no injury was sustained.  Source:  Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Shaun Woodward: None. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for the Olympics, my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell) on 19 May 2008,  Official Report, column 5W.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Recruitment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were recruited to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) constituency and  (b) district council area.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following information:
	
		
			  (a) Response by  c onstituency 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   C5  C6  C7  C8  C9  CIO  C11  C12  CIS  Total 
			 Belfast East 18 18 12 12 19 9 14 10 4 116 
			 Belfast North 6 7 5 3 5 8 4 9 5 52 
			 Belfast South 21 19 21 7 13 25 4 12 2 124 
			 Belfast West 4 4 5 4 3 3 0 4 1 28 
			 East Antrim 19 21 30 10 12 12 9 9 6 128 
			 East Londonderry 30 26 11 10 13 14 7 7 8 126 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 11 6 5 6 6 7 2 5 3 51 
			 Foyle 16 11 9 12 6 6 6 9 8 83 
			 Lagan Valley 32 16 26 18 27 16 15 22 8 180 
			 Mid Ulster 2 2 4 4 1 3 3 1 0 20 
			 Newry and Armagh 8 6 6 4 3 1 5 5 2 40 
			 North Antrim 14 15 7 4 8 12 5 7 6 78 
			 North Down 26 34 22 17 22 21 21 16 6 185 
			 South Antrim 26 22 26 11 18 19 16 19 13 170 
			 South Down 6 14 12 8 8 9 9 11 4 81 
			 Strangford 24 29 27 15 18 15 12 20 8 168 
			 Upper Bann 22 19 14 9 15 17 11 10 11 128 
			 West Tyrone 6 5 8 5 4 2 0 3 2 35 
			 Total 291 274 250 159 201 199 143 179 97 1793 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Response by  district council 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   C5  C6  C7  C8  C9  CIO  C11  C12  C13  Total 
			 Antrim 14 12 10 3 11 5 6 8 7 76 
			 Ards 14 20 23 12 15 15 8 16 6 129 
			 Armagh 6 6 4 4 1 1 3 3 0 28 
			 Ballymena 10 13 6 2 4 8 3 5 5 56 
			 Ballymoney 3 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 16 
			 Banbridge 15 12 12 6 16 7 10 11 4 93 
			 Belfast 38 36 34 19 28 34 18 27 11 245 
			 Carrickfergus 11 8 17 3 5 5 5 5 3 62 
			 Castlereagh 21 18 12 6 16 11 11 9 2 106 
			 Coleraine 19 15 7 8 8 6 3 7 6 79 
			 Cookstown 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 7 
			 Craigavon 11 11 5 8 7 11 5 4 7 69 
			 Derry 16 11 9 12 6 6 6 9 8 83 
			 Down 6 12 11 10 7 12 8 10 3 79 
			 Dungannon 2 3 0 2 2 4 1 1 1 16 
			 Fermanagh 10 3 5 5 4 3 1 4 2 37 
			 Lame 5 9 5 6 5 4 4 3 2 43 
			 Limavady 11 11 4 2 5 8 4 0 2 47 
			 Lisburn 28 14 24 14 20 16 12 20 8 156 
			 Magherafelt 1 1 3 0 1 2 2 1 0 11 
			 Moyle 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 6 
			 Newry and Mourne 3 4 4 1 2 0 2 3 4 23 
			 Newtownabbey 16 15 24 10 9 18 10 13 7 122 
			 North Down 24 32 21 16 21 16 18 15 6 169 
			 Omagh 5 3 7 4 4 1 0 3 2 29 
			 Strabane 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 6 
			 Total 291 274 250 159 201 199 143 179 97 1793 
		
	
	continued
	This analysis is based on postcode information provided at time of application (correspondence address). Not all applicants provide a valid postcode.
	Appointments are still ongoing from campaigns 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Royal Ulster Constabulary: Part-Time Employment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many man hours of service were provided by part-time members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary between 1981 and 2001.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
	The Police Service does not retain the information requested for the periods concerned.

JUSTICE

Absent Voting

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on steps to ensure that each elector who has applied for a postal vote receives it.

Bridget Prentice: Responsibility for the conduct of elections, including the delivery of postal votes to electors, rests with the relevant returning officer. The Electoral Commission issues guidance to returning officers on the issue and distribution of postal votes. My Department has regular discussions with the Electoral Commission on a range of issues concerning the administration of elections, including the arrangements for processing postal votes. Whilst the issue that the hon. Member raises has not been discussed with the Electoral Commission recently, it will be included in future discussions with the Electoral Commission.

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Michael Wills: Since the creation of the Ministry of Justice, the Department uses a number of different accounting systems and each of these employs its own chart of accounts. The main accounting systems currently in use are:
	the Home Office's Adelphi system, which hosts the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR);
	Her Majesty's Prison Service's Phoenix system; and
	the ex-Department for Constitutional Affair's ARAMIS system.
	A copy of these three charts of accounts will be placed in the Library at the beginning of July.
	The Department is taking steps to rationalise its accounting arrangements, with NOMS migrating from Adelphi to Phoenix and OCJR migrating from Adelphi to ARAMIS during the current financial year. Ultimately, the aim of the Department's Shared Service Programme will be to move to the use of a single accounting system.
	The charts of accounts for 2008-09 therefore reflects the Department's structure as it currently is and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure, or that of future years. The charts show the relationship between parent codes (used for preparing resource accounts) and children codes (used for more detailed management purposes). Each code has a brief description that describes its use.

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Michael Wills: My Department does not hold central records of the number and cost of chairs, desks and other office furniture purchased in the last five years, to retrieve such information would involve manual checks of local records at disproportionate time and cost.
	Within National Offender Management Service (NOMS), it is our policy to make furniture in-house from raw materials sourced from a range of suppliers, rather than buy the furniture as finished products.

Departmental Pilot Schemes

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which pilot projects initiated by his Department since its creation have not proceeded to further roll-out.

Michael Wills: Since the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007 no pilot projects have been initiated which have not proceeded to roll out, they are either on-going or have been rolled out.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much sick pay to staff in his Department and its predecessor cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: It is estimated that the cost of sick pay within the public sector Prison Service during 2007 was 68 million. Estimated costs for other parts of the Department are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Cabinet Office published a report on sickness absence in the civil service on 7 February 2008. The report included an analysis of the days lost due to sickness absence. The report included an estimate of 887.66 for 2006-07 as the cost of absence per staff year in respect of all civil servants.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what subscriptions  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies has for (i) premium Sky, (ii) digital terrestrial and (iii) cable television channels; and what the annual cost of each was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice receives its feed for satellite television from the Houses of Parliament and therefore does not pay for subscriptions.
	The National Archives, the Boundary Commission for Wales, the Office of the Public Guardian, the Land Registry, the Boundary Commission for England, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Legal Services Commission and the Tribunals Service do not pay subscriptions for (i), (ii) and (iii).
	HMCS headquarters does not pay a subscription for (i), (ii) and (iii), but does pay for satellite and cable services at some judges' lodgings at a total cost of 5,979.38 in 2007-08.
	The National Offender Management Service headquarters does not pay a subscription for (i), (ii) and (iii). No prisoners in public sector prisons receive satellite or other television channels in their cells for which a subscription is payable. In-cell television is conditional on good behaviour.
	20 public sector prisons have satellite television in association areas and pay a basic subscription for it. Information on the costs of such facilities is not held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain.
	Private sector prisons' contracts do not specify costs for such services as they form part of the overall operating cost which of course has been competitively tendered prior to agreement. The contractor is required to obtain best price and under the terms of our contracts providers are obliged to obtain commercially competitive rates throughout the duration of the contract.

High Court: Judges

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 607-08W, if he will make it his policy to make details of expenses claims by High Court judges available for inspection by the public.

Jack Straw: In accordance with general principles, I have no plans to make available, for inspection by the public, details of expenses claims by High Court judges. As I explained in my earlier answer to the hon. Member, the expenses which may be claimed by High Court judges are governed by their terms and conditions and are subject to appropriate control procedures.

Legal Aid: Voluntary Organisations

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the effects of fixed fees for legal aid on the funding of voluntary sector organisations providing legal advice.

Maria Eagle: Fixed fee schemes were calculated on the basis of historic spend by both solicitor firms and not for profit (NfP) agencies and no money has been removed from the overall civil legal aid budget.
	The Legal Services Commission (LSC) undertook a full regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of the effect of the introduction of fixed fees. The final RIA is available on their website
	https://consult.legalservices.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/sustainable.future/consultationHome.
	Transitional arrangements have been introduced to assist NfP providers to adjust to recent reforms. The LSC regularly monitors the operation of these arrangements. The great majority of NfP providers are adapting well to fixed fees.
	The LSC will be reviewing the operation of the first stage of graduated and fixed fees (implemented in October 2007 and January 2008) to see if any changes should be made to those existing schemes for April 2010. It intends to publish the outcome of that review in January 2009, with a further six-week consultation on any changes to be made to the stage 1 fees as a result. Any such changes would take effect in the new contracts from 1 April 2010.

Office of the Public Guardian: Powers of Attorney

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Office of the Public Guardian spent on training staff in the processing of registrations of lasting powers of attorney in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what training his Department provides for this purpose.

Bridget Prentice: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 came fully into force in October 2007. Prior to that point training provision was the responsibility of the Public Guardianship Officethe Office of the Public Guardian's predecessor. This included training for the new processes and procedures relating to Lasting Powers of Attorney that the Act introduced.
	Since October, the OPG has been responsible for meeting all ongoing training needs. Over the last 12 months, specific training on the registration of LPAs has been provided to staff in the Applications and Processing area, which deals with the registration of LPAs, and to staff in the Contact Centre, which advises clients on LPA process and the progress of individual applications.
	Additionally, all staff at the OPG attended awareness seminars on the new Act and LPAs. Initial training is gained through such seminars and similar themed workshops. Practical assistance has then been provided via desk bound training and a buddy scheme whereby experienced staff shadow new staff members and undertake additional floor-walking. This helps to ensure that staff are familiar with new systems and processes from which they may begin to put theory into practice.
	Because of the range of training offered and in particular the significant amounts of flexibly provided by desk training, it has not been possible to provide exact figures on the total cost. However, based on average staff costs and reasonable assumptions of the average amount of time per staff member spent on training, we estimate a sum of 73,680 has been spent on staff training in relation to LPAs to date.
	Training is continuing to be provided as the OPG develops its processes and court decisions become known.

Prisoners: Employment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government has taken to assist prisoners to gain employment when released.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice is working in partnership with the Departments for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and Work and Pensions to implement the Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment: Next Steps action plan, in which the three priorities are to:
	engage employers through the Reducing Re-offending Corporate Alliance in improving the skills and employment outcomes of offenders;
	build on the new Offender Learning and Skills Service through the campus model which will give offenders more flexible access to skills and employment support with effective use of ICT; and
	use the commissioning role of the offender manager to build a new emphasis on skills and jobs in prisons and probation areas.
	Work to implement the plan includes ensuring that offenders are given advice on job searching from Jobcentre Plus while still in custody and that this support continues after release. Many offenders are able to benefit from employment programmes such as the new deal and Progress2Work.
	In addition, on 31 January 2008, the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor  Official Report, column 37WS, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) announced the publication of the Prison Policy Update briefing paper which set out the Government's plans to increase the range of constructive work available to prisoners inside prisons, which will in turn increase their chances of getting a job on the outside. This work is well under way.
	On 12 June he also announced four new workshops at Stocken prison. Bricklaying, painting and decorating, and learning to refurbish and repair hire equipment for builders' merchant Travis Perkins are among the skills being taught in the workshops.
	On 10 June I launched a major new vocational training scheme at Wandsworth prison with Cisco Systems, Bovis Lend Lease and Panduit. The scheme will train prisoners in installing voice and data cabling within business and residential developments and, where possible, employing them within the Bovis social enterprise Be Onsite.

Young Offender Institutions: Social Services

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many social workers left employment inside juvenile prisons in the last year.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Seven people left social worker posts in young offender institutions during the 12 months to 31 March 2008. (Information supplied by the Youth Justice Board.)

Young Offender Institutions: Social Services

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the ratio of social workers to children in each juvenile prison is.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table, based on information supplied by the Youth Justice Board, shows the ratio of social worker posts to trainees in each young offender institution in the secure estate for children and young people. To a certain extent, the varying ratios reflect the differing sizes of establishments. Steps are being taken to fill five posts that are currently vacant.
	
		
			  YOI  Ratio of social workers to trainees 
			 Ashfield 1:200 
			 Brinsford 1:112 
			 Castington 1:168 
			 Cookham Wood 1:157 
			 Downview 0:16 
			 Eastwood Park 0:16 
			 Feltham 1:120 
			 Foston Hall 0:16 
			 Hindley 1:96 
			 Huntercombe 1:180 
			 Lancaster Farms 1:120 
			 New Hall 1:26 
			 Parc 1:64 
			 Stoke Heath 1:202 
			 Warren Hill 1:222 
			 Werrington 1:160 
			 Wetherby 1:204

Young Offenders: Crimes of Violence

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offenders aged 10 to 17 years were found guilty and sentenced for  (a) murder,  (b) rape and  (c) violence against the person in each year since 1997, broken down by criminal justice area.

David Hanson: The requested information is contained in the following table.
	The number of persons sentenced were found guilty (either at court or by their own admission) prior to the point of sentencing.
	Data for the offence of violence against the person will include the number of persons sentenced for murder.
	Statistics for 2007 will be published in the autumn.
	The Government are committed to tackling youth crime and particularly violent youth crime to reduce the impact it has on communities. The Government published their tackling violence action plan this year with a range of measures to address violent crime. The vast majority of youngsters are on the right track. In the five years to 2005, the frequency of juvenile reoffending fell by more than 17 per cent. The Offending Crime and Justice Survey shows that over the past three surveys overall youth offending has remained stable.
	The Government will publish a Youth Crime Action Plan in the summer setting out a cross-Government approach to tackling youth crime.
	
		
			  Number of juveniles sentenced( 1 ) for murder, rape and violence against the person( 2) , all courts, England and Wales 1997 to 2006, England and Wales 
			  Number of persons 
			  Criminal justice area and offence group  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			
			  Avon and Somerset   
			 Murder   2  1  
			 Rape 1  1 1 1 2 
			 Violence against the person 97 74 93 112 134 133 155 130 147 159 
			  Bedfordshire   
			 Murder  1 3  2  
			 Rape 1  
			 Violence against the person 41 49 38 42 43 38 43 52 62 63 
			
			  Cambridgeshire   
			 Murder   
			 Rape 1  1  1 1 
			 Violence against the person 70 48 77 64 75 68 70 59 116 73 
			
			  Cheshire   
			 Murder   1  1 1 
			 Rape 2 1  1  1   2 6 
			 Violence against the person 184 194 180 174 164 148 107 115 159 207 
			
			  Cleveland   
			 Murder 1 1 
			 Rape 1   1  1 2 1 1 3 
			 Violence against the person 71 54 60 70 64 77 79 74 84 123 
			
			  Cumbria   
			 Murder 2   1   
			 Rape   1 1   
			 Violence against the person 75 89 90 81 79 64 91 93 100 111 
			
			  Derbyshire   
			 Murder 2  
			 Rape   3 23 2 2 
			 Violence against the person 91 109 113 88 116 119 119 124 191 134 
			
			  Devon and Cornwall   
			 Murder 1 1 
			 Rape 3 1 1  1 1  1 1  
			 Violence against the person 86 82 86 110 74 119 138 147 142 116 
			
			  Dorset   
			 Murder   
			 Rape 1   1 2 1 
			 Violence against the person 25 49 38 45 47 48 36 49 80 77 
			
			  Durham   
			 Murder 1  2   1 
			 Rape 1 1  2 2 1 
			 Violence against the person 151 98 144 115 105 126 114 101 132 150 
			
			  Essex   
			 Murder 1 1 
			 Rape 1   1 1 1   2 1 
			 Violence against the person 134 135 99 117 146 144 176 208 178 170 
			
			  Gloucestershire   
			 Murder   
			 Rape 1   2  1   1  
			 Violence against the person 40 46 37 48 46 42 43 54 71 66 
			
			  Greater Manchester   
			 Murder 1 1 3  4 4  1 4 1 
			 Rape 2 2 1 3 2  3 3 5 4 
			 Violence against the person 436 457 501 565 653 565 526 602 573 525 
			
			  Hampshire   
			 Murder 1   1 2  
			 Rape 3 1 2 2 1  2 1 3 4 
			 Violence against the person 179 224 201 233 209 271 269 274 265 249 
			
			  Hertfordshire   
			 Murder   
			 Rape11  2 
			 Violence against the person 69 70 62 95 87 110 107 116 148 111 
			
			  Humberside   
			 Murder 1  1
			 Rape   1 1 1 4 
			 Violence against the person 115 120 118 120 103 129 143 107 144 162 
			
			  Kent   
			 Murder   1  2   1   
			 Rape31 4 1 
			 Violence against the person 151 144 146 128 154 124 123 101 147 145 
			
			  Lancashire   
			 Murder   1   11 
			 Rape 2  3   2 1 1 1 3 
			 Violence against the person 219 220 177 218 212 235 225 206 278 314 
			
			  Leicestershire   
			 Murder1  1 
			 Rape   1  1  
			 Violence against the person 130 120 139 129 145 150 146 144 155 151 
			
			  Lincolnshire   
			 Murder 1  
			 Rape 1  1   1   2 1 
			 Violence against the person 35 69 44 45 51 44 60 57 66 44 
			
			  Merseyside   
			 Murder 1 1 3 3 31  
			 Rape 2 1  1 6   2 3 4 
			 Violence against the person 222 233 221 234 272 251 260 299 262 297 
			
			  London   
			 Murder 6 1 4 8 6 7 1 5 6 7 
			 Rape 16 7 12 9 8 8 9 7 8 10 
			 Violence against the person 752 766 773 873 1,081 1,104 889 949 1,057 1,093 
			
			  Norfolk   
			 Rape   1 2 2 1 
			 Violence against the person 60 57 62 49 62 45 67 44 58 69 
			
			  North Yorkshire   
			 Murder 1  
			 Rape  2 1 1  2 1   2 
			 Violence against the person 65 46 59 61 39 51 62 58 68 91 
			
			  Northamptonshire   
			 Murder   1  1  
			 Rape   1 1 1   1   
			 Violence against the person 46 77 85 62 39 43 33 34 40 35 
			
			  Northumbria   
			 Murder 2  1 21   
			 Rape 7 3 2 1 3 2 2 2 3 3 
			 Violence against the person 287 358 305 311 333 332 274 296 308 235 
			
			  Nottinghamshire   
			 Murder1 2 1 
			 Rape   4 1 3  1  3 2 
			 Violence against the person 149 118 121 157 159 129 132 115 153 163 
			
			  South Yorkshire   
			 Murder   2   1 1 1 3 1 
			 Rape 4 2 3   1   2 5 
			 Violence against the person 162 152 170 170 191 221 192 189 213 216 
			
			  Staffordshire   
			 Murder   
			 Rape   11 3 2 1 
			 Violence against the person 84 98 110 151 102 131 124 129 154 133 
			
			  Suffolk   
			 Murder 2 1 
			 Rape 1 1   1  
			 Violence against the person 44 33 67 48 50 65 72 76 102 110 
			
			  Surrey   
			 Murder   
			 Rape  1  1 2 1 
			 Violence against the person 31 40 28 49 51 37 49 69 57 72 
			
			  Sussex   
			 Murder  111 
			 Rape   1  1  1 1 1 1 
			 Violence against the person 96 80 62 97 105 105 120 141 161 168 
			
			  Thames Valley   
			 Murder1   2  1  
			 Rape 11 1 2 2  1 
			 Violence against the person 116 118 103 127 132 132 131 137 184 192 
			
			  Warwickshire   
			 Murder   
			 Rape 1 1 1  1 2 
			 Violence against the person 49 48 40 29 42 33 28 51 47 63 
			
			  West Mercia   
			 Murder 1  
			 Rape 1 1   2   1 2 2 
			 Violence against the person 107 101 98 93 155 118 108 107 167 185 
			
			  West Midlands   
			 Murder 5 2  3 1  1  2  
			 Rape 5 5 4 4 3  4 3 8 4 
			 Violence against the person 449 463 489 559 634 606 534 540 416 517 
			
			  West Yorkshire   
			 Murder 2 1 3   3  1 2 2 
			 Rape 1 5 8 1 2 1 3 3 11 3 
			 Violence against the person 285 293 309 258 240 252 245 351 288 237 
			
			  Wiltshire   
			 Murder   
			 Rape  23 
			 Violence against the person 35 52 36 45 58 56 63 51 68 93 
			
			  Dyfed-Powys   
			 Murder 2  
			 Rape   1 1   
			 Violence against the person 53 63 67 60 46 37 56 50 55 45 
			
			  Gwent   
			 Murder 1  
			 Rape   1   1   1 1 
			 Violence against the person 92 79 68 85 S2 76 88 93 89 93 
			
			  North Wales   
			 Murder1  1 
			 Rape 1 1   2 1  1   
			 Violence against the person 68 73 64 92 91 86 92 99 100 113 
			
			  South Wales   
			 Murder  1  1  1 
			 Rape 1 3 1 4 1 1  2 4 3 
			 Violence against the person 235 195 225 215 229 206 188 211 159 189 
			
			  England and Wales   
			 Murder 26 10 24 20 27 20 9 13 26 19 
			 Rape 58 36 55 43 42 31 35 46 86 85 
			 Violence against the person 5,886 5,994 6,005 6,424 6.910 6,870 6,577 6,902 7,444 7,559 
			 (1) The data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data for violence against the person will include the number sentenced for murder.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS, Analytical Services

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government have taken to reduce re-offending by young offenders.

David Hanson: Between 2000 and 2005 youth re-offending has reduced by 2.5 per cent. The same period has also seen the frequency of juvenile re-offending reduce by 17.4 per cent. and a reduction in the rate of re-offending of 0.7 per cent. for those offences classified as serious. This means that those young people that do re-offend are re-offending less often.
	We will be building on this work and we are developing a cross-government youth crime action plan which will set out work to further reduce offending and re-offending by young people.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Castle Point Borough Council: Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid for consultancy services by  (a) Castle Point Borough Council and  (b) Essex County Council in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally.

Community Development

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) terms of reference,  (b) membership,  (c) programme of work and  (d) opportunities for input from the public and others are for the review team on disadvantaged communities chaired by Stephen Houghton announced on 28 May 2008.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Tackling Worklessness Review will:
	Examine how local authorities and their partners are using the Working Neighbourhoods Fund to tackle worklessness within their worst performing neighbourhoods;
	Identify what more central Government departments can do to support local partners to deliver better employment and skills services for their residents and employers;
	Consider how the private sector, social enterprises and third sector groups, and the Regional Development Agencies can help local partners to improve employment in Working Neighbourhood Fund areas and through the new Local Performance Framework; and
	Report the group's findings to the Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) and the Minister for Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) by October 2008, to be followed by the publication of the group's final report.
	Councillor Stephen Houghton will chair the review. He will be joined by representatives from social enterprise (Claire Dove) and the private sector (Steve Olive) as well as senior Government officials.
	As the first meeting scoping the group has yet to take place (scheduled for 25 June) information on the programme of work and opportunities for input from the public and others is not yet available.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether regional development agencies will be charging authorities under the new community infrastructure levy.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the  Official Report, 1 February 2008, column 606, where I stated, during the Commons Committee stage of the Planning Bill, that
	we have no intention of empowering regional planning bodies, whether in their current form or as regional development agencies, as CIL charging authorities.

Council House Transfers: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants in each London borough applied for a housing transfer to  (a) another London borough and (b) elsewhere in the UK in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: This information is not collected centrally. Information is held centrally on households on council housing waiting lists but not on council tenants specifically seeking housing transfers.

Council Tax

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of council tax and non-domestic rates not collected in 2007-08 was in each billing authority in England.

John Healey: I have placed in the Library of the House a table giving details of the amount and the proportion of  (a) council tax and  (b) non-domestic rates in respect of 2007-08 that remained uncollected by each billing authority by 31 March 2008. The in year collection rates for council tax in 2007-08 rose for the 8th successive year and are now at 97.1 per cent. Collection of council tax and non-domestic rates continues once the financial year to which they relate has ended.

Departmental Contracts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) subject and  (b) cost was of each research contract her Department and its predecessor has commissioned since 2003.

Parmjit Dhanda: Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our Research Database (RD) at
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	The database provides information on projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and predecessor Departments going back to 30 November 2001. This includes the subject and cost of each research contract.

Departmental Inquiries

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what independent inquiries have been commissioned by her Department in the last five years; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each.

Hazel Blears: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not commissioned any independent public inquiries in the last five years.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) her Department,  (b) each of its agencies and  (c) the Audit Commission subscribes; and at what cost in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not subscribe to any Sky, digital terrestrial, or cable television channels that attract a regular payment. The Department (including the Government offices) receives television channels on a Freeview basis.
	The Department's agencies report the following:
	The Planning Inspectorate does not subscribe to any Sky, digital terrestrial, or cable television channels.
	The Queen Elizabeth 2nd Conference Centre does not subscribe to any Sky, digital terrestrial, or cable television channels.
	The Fire Service College subscribes to the basic Sky TV package with Sky Sports and Asian channels added. This was at a cost of 957.69 in the 2007-08 financial year.
	The Ordnance Survey does not subscribe to these channels
	The Audit Commission does not have a subscription for premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels. The channels they do receive form part of a Freeview package.

Eco-towns: Land

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the area in hectares of the proposed Ford eco-town site is; and what proportion is  (a) brownfield and  (b) greenfield land.

Caroline Flint: The Ford eco-town is a site of 368.8 hectares. 30 per cent. of the site, 108.36 hectares, is brownfield and the remaining 70 per cent., 260.33 hectares, is classified greenfield. Details about this site and the other shortlisted eco-towns are available through our website. A summary of the Ford proposal and all the shortlisted locations is also available in the consultation document, Eco-townsLiving a greener future.

Eco-towns: Staffordshire

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will make a decision on whether to allow the commencement of construction of the proposed new eco-town at Curborough.

Caroline Flint: We are currently consulting on the shortlisted locations in Eco-townsLiving a greener future and this includes Curborough. In addition we expect to publish in Julyfor further consultationa draft sustainability appraisal on the locations and a draft planning policy statement which will set out more detail for each location.
	Later in the year, and only after this second consultation will we decide which sites have potential to be an eco-town and which schemes we will support as they go forward into the local planning process, where they will undergo further testing and consultation.

Essex County Council: Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by Essex County Council on promotion of  (a) tourism,  (b) enterprise and  (c) sport in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally.

Floods: Planning Permission

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will issue guidance to local planning authorities on the account to be taken of the contribution that permeable paving may make to flood defences in decisions on planning applications.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk, (PPS25), already advises applicants to include an assessment of surface water and drainage from proposed developments, as part of their Flood Risk Assessments. Local planning authorities should take account of these when deciding planning applications which include paving. A Practice Guide to PPS25 has just been published and this includes advice on sustainable drainage. We do not think that any further guidance is necessary.
	We intend to amend current permitted development rights that allow householders to pave over their front gardens so as to require that the paving will not lead to the front garden area being impermeable. We intend this change to come into force on 1 October this year and we will publish guidance to explain how householders can comply with this requirement.

Homelessness: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) women,  (b) men and  (c) adolescents she estimates are currently living on the streets in West Chelmsford constituency.

Iain Wright: Local authorities measure rough sleeping by conducting single night street counts where there is a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem. Chelmsford council have not conducted a street count, which signifies that they believe that the area does not have a rough sleeping problem.
	There has been considerable progress in tackling rough sleeping as the most visible form of homelessness. The target of a two-thirds reduction from the 1998 baseline of 1,850 people sleeping rough on the streets on any single night was met early in 2001 and has been sustained.

Housing Market

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the speaking notes prepared for the Minister for Housing on the state of the housing market on 13 May 2008.

Caroline Flint: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Housing: Construction

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of the downturn in the housing market on the Government's target to build 3 million homes.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing on 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 497W to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Julia Goldsworthy).

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of skill shortages in relation to repairs needed to houses affected by the summer 2007 floods;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the availability of  (a) plumbers,  (b) electricians,  (c) plasterers and  (d) other essential workers necessary to complete repairs due to flood damage from summer 2007.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1405W.

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many households remain in temporary accommodation following the summer 2007 floods, broken down by local authority area;
	(2)  how many households are still displaced following the summer floods of 2007, broken down by local government area.

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households which were flooded in summer 2007 remain empty.

John Healey: As at 30 May, we estimate that approximately 4,700 households remain wholly or partially displaced from their homes following the floods of summer 2007. Around one in six of those not back in their homes at the end of April had returned by the end of May. A breakdown of the figures by local authority area is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/846188.pdf

Housing: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were built in  (a) Cleethorpes,  (b) Grimsby,  (c) Brigg and Goole,  (d) North East Lincolnshire and  (e) North Lincolnshire in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Data for the parliamentary constituencies of Cleethorpes, Grimsby and Brigg and Goole are not available. These constituencies are sections of North East Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire unitary authorities.
	The following table shows the number of homes built in North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire unitary authorities from 1997-98 to 2007-08.
	
		
			   North East Lincolnshire  North Lincolnshire  East riding of Yorkshire 
			 1997-98 240 1,576 1,781 
			 1998-99 116 455 1,262 
			 1999-2000 477 551 1,123 
			 2000-01 347 640 1,053 
			 2001-02 259 738 964 
			 2002-03 199 545 1,064 
			 2003-04 503 527 1,285 
			 2004-05 425 503 864 
			 2005-06 186 1,126 851 
			 2006-07 471 655 803 
			 2007-08 176 446 564 
			  Source:  P2Q returns from local authorities to Communities and Local Government. 
		
	
	A quarterly National Statistics release on house building starts and completions is published by the Department. The latest publication can be found on the CLG website at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/804283.pdf
	In addition, information on house building starts and completions by local authority is available from the Department's 'housing live tables'. These can be found at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/

Housing: Low Incomes

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable new homes have been built in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Data are not available for Jarrow constituency. This constituency, however, is within South Tyneside local authority for which figures are available.
	The following table shows the number of new affordable homes built in South Tyneside local authority, the North East and England for each year from 1997-98. The figures include social rent and intermediate affordable housing new build; they exclude affordable housing acquisitions.
	
		
			  New build affordable homes in South Tyneside, North East and England 
			   South Tyneside  North East  England 
			 1997-98 48 1,250 28,210 
			 1998-99 48 954 26,538 
			 1999-2000 67 793 22,321 
			 2000-01 52 563 20,939 
			 2001-02 25 823 21,739 
			 2002-03 10 295 21,096 
			 2003-04 80 563 23,888 
			 2004-05 43 671 26,331 
			 2005-06 70 917 32,997 
			 2006-07 75 1,222 35,941 
			  Sources: Housing Corporation Local authority returns to Communities and Local Government. 
		
	
	Statistics on affordable housing supply (new build and acquisitions) for England were published in the Communities and Local Government Statistics Release of 12 June and accompanying live tables. The web links are show as follows:
	Link to Affordable Housing Statistics Release is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/838468
	Link to Affordable Housing Live Tables are available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/

Housing: Low Incomes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: Between 2002 and 2007, 2,974 net affordable homes have been completed in Essex, representing almost 9 per cent. of total net completed dwellings. For the same period, Castle Point delivered 29 net affordable homes (during 2004-05 only) which represents 3 per cent. of their total net completed dwellings.

Housing: Low Incomes

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the target of an additional three million affordable homes to be met; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government's proposals are set out in the Green Paper, Homes for the Future: more affordable, more sustainable (CM 7191), copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Housing: Sales

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent estimate is of the level of gazundering in the housing market.

Iain Wright: No such estimate has been made.

Local Authorities: Allowances

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to  (a) collect information and  (b) report on the average allowances paid per member by each (i) county council and (ii) borough council.

John Healey: We have no plans to collect or report on allowances paid to local authority members, which are matters for each council to decide, having regard to the recommendations of their independent remuneration panel and on which the council is accountable to their local electorate.

Local Authorities: Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if she will make it her policy to  (a) collect information and  (b) report on the level of spending on hospitality by each (i) county council and (ii) borough council;
	(2)  if she will make it her policy to (a) collect information and (b) report on the level of spending on air travel by each (i) county council and (ii) borough council.

John Healey: The Government have no plans to collect information or require councils to report on the level of spending on hospitality or on air travel. Local authorities are independent bodies accountable to their electorate and decisions on these matters are a matter for each authority.

Migration

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 27 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1604W, when her Department plans to publish the cross-government action plan on the local impacts of migration.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government published Managing the Impacts of Migration: A cross-Government Approach on 11 June 2008.

Non-domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many premises received small business rate relief in each of the last five years in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex.

John Healey: Castle Point borough council reported there were 625 businesses in their area in receipt of small business rate relief as at 31 December 2006, the only year for which this information is currently available.
	At the same date, local authorities in Essex reported there were a total of 13,242 businesses in receipt of small business rate relief.

Planning Permission: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the planning application for Hunts Grove was called in by her Department; which persons supported call-in; what the cost of this further inquiry was; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The application for development at Hunts Grove was called in by the Secretary of State because she considered that the proposal may conflict with national policies on important matters in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing [PPS3]. She also wished to be sure of the extent to which the proposed development accords with the current and draft Regional Spatial Strategy, the adopted Gloucestershire Structure Plan; and the Stroud Local Plan. A letter sent to Stroud district council explained these reasons more fully. I understand that a copy of this letter was sent to my hon. Friend by my noble Friend Baroness Andrews, but I will ensure that a further copy is provided.
	Requests to call in the proposal were received from Gloucester city council, two interested parties, my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester and my hon. Friend.
	The overall cost of the inquiry is not known. Stroud district council would have provided the venue and borne the cost of their legal and other representatives both before and during the inquiry. In this type of inquiry the Planning Inspector's costs are not recharged to the council but are borne by the Planning Inspectorate which is an agency of the Secretary of State's Department.

Regional Planning and Development: East Midlands

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish proposed changes to the draft East Midlands plan.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government aims to publish proposed changes to the East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (the draft East Midlands Regional Plan) this summer.

Regional Spatial Strategies: Greenbelt

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any core strategies have been rejected or found unsound by planning inspectors due to insufficient consideration given to planning for  (a) green field and  (b) green belt development; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: No core strategy development plan document will have been found unsound purely on the basis of the consideration of green field or green belt land for housing because the issue of housing land will have been looked at on a comprehensive basis, taking into account all sources of potential supply.

Rented Housing: Community Development

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether she has assessed the effect of the increase in privately rented accommodation on  (a) community relations and  (b) neighbour disputes;
	(2)  what recent representations she has received on the responsibilities of private landlords to ensure that their tenants behave responsibly towards neighbours and the wider community;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of trends in the proportion of privately-rented properties owned by absent landlords on former council estates over the last 20 years; and what assessment she has made of the effects of such trends.

Iain Wright: This information is not held centrally. However, as part of their strategic housing role, local housing authorities make assessments of the extent, condition and location of the private rented stock in their areas together with the impact on local communities.
	Where local housing authorities consider that there is a need to exert more control on the management of the private rented sector in specific neighbourhoods in their area, it is open to them to introduce selective licensing regimes alongside other strategic initiatives and subject to the consent of the Secretary of State. So far, seven such schemes have been introduced by five local authorities. We are aware of several other schemes in preparation. The Department has commissioned an independent review of the private rented sector which may offer a view on the issues raised. It is scheduled to report in October 2008.

Rented Housing: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of private tenants in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The following table respectively shows the number of private sector dwellings completed in Essex and Castle Point over period 2002-2007. These figures do not indicate the number of private sector tenants over that period, since it is not possible to estimate the number of tenants residing in a property at any one time.
	
		
			  Private sector (n on RSL) dwelling stock position 2002-07 
			   Castlepoint  Essex 
			 2002-2003 33,765 589,586 
			 2003-2004 33,996 599,645 
			 2004-2005 34,084 601,922 
			 2005-2006 34,371 606,884 
			 2006-2007 34,608 612,303

Repossession Orders: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were repossessed in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: Tables 1 and 2, respectively show the numbers of mortgage and landlord possession orders made in each of the Essex county courts since 2003.
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	No county court caters only for repossession actions relating to properties in the Castle Point constituency. The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. As county courts' jurisdictions are not coterminous with the borough boundaries, any single court's repossession actions are likely to relate to homes in a number of different boroughs.
	
		
			  Table 1: Mortgage( 1)  possession orders( 2,) ( 3)  in the county courts( 4)  of Essex since 2003 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Basildon 478 612 910 1,048 1,057 
			 Chelmsford 175 226 355 381 383 
			 Colchester 300 385 542 695 778 
			 Harlow(5) 139 183 258 310  
			 Southend-on-Sea 348 416 620 657 606 
			 Essex(5) 1,440 1,822 2,685 3,091  
			 South East 8,201 10,050 15,220 17,693 17,824 
			 (1) Mortgage possession data include all types of lenders whether local authority or private. (2) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (3) Includes suspended orders and orders made. (4) Does not include the small number of possession actions entered in the High Court. (5) The rollout of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court and county level data on possession orders. It is only possible to provide court level figures for those courts with direct on-site PCOL access for 2007. Upward adjustments have been made for the missing data at HMCS regional level, hence the figures for the South East are provided. Source: Ministry of Defence 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Landlord( 1)  possession orders( 2, 3, 4 ) in the county courts( 5)  of Essex since 2003 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Basildon 1,004 1,051 810 853 769 
			 Chelmsford 347 337 266 313 324 
			 Colchester 706 623 677 656 647 
			 Harlow(6) 410 399 383 342  
			 Southend-on-Sea 487 439 473 490 475 
			 Essex(6) 2,954 2,849 2,609 2,654  
			 South East 20,336 19,834 19,157 18,093 18,973 
			 (1) Landlord possession data include all types of landlords. (2) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (3) Includes suspended orders and orders made. (4) Landlord possession orders made through standard and accelerated procedures. (5) Does not include the small number of possession actions entered in the High Court. (6) The rollout of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court and county level data on possession orders. It is only possible to provide court level figures for those courts with direct on-site PCOL access for 2007. Upward adjustments have been made for the missing data at HMCS regional level, hence the figures for the South East are provided.  Source: Ministry of Justice

Shops

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of economic conditions and the state of the credit market on trends in the rate of letting retail properties in urban redevelopment projects; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We are closely monitoring the property market to assess the impact of the global credit problems. While there is some concern about the potential impact of the credit crunch on future urban redevelopment, rates of lettings will depend on local market conditions and the ability of the redevelopment scheme to compete with other locations. We will continue to look at what action needs to be taken.

Social Rented Housing

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social rented homes have been built in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Data are not available for Jarrow constituency. This constituency, however, is within South Tyneside local authority for which figures are available.
	The following table shows the number of social rented new build homes in South Tyneside local authority, the North East and England in each year since 1997-98. The figures exclude social rented acquisitions.
	
		
			  New build social rent homes in South Tyneside, North East and England 
			   South Tyneside  North East  England 
			 1997-98 38 1,068 24,015 
			 1998-99 48 824 22,607 
			 1999-2000 67 706 19,574 
			 2000-01 31 470 18,232 
			 2001-02 14 713 18,637 
			 2002-03 10 289 17,510 
			 2003-04 80 537 18,369 
			 2004-05 25 565 18,187 
			 2005-06 42 748 20,248 
			 2006-07 74 1,087 21,178 
			  Sources: Housing Corporation Local authority returns to Communities and Local Government. 
		
	
	Statistics on affordable housing supply (new build and acquisitions) for England were published in the Communities and Local Government Statistics Release of 12 June and accompanying live tables. The web links are show as follows:
	Link to Affordable Housing Statistics Release is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/838468
	Link to Affordable Housing Live Tables are available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousing supply/livetables/

Somerset County Council: Finance

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what Somerset County Council's borrowing was in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows Somerset county council's total gross borrowing and the change in borrowing for each of the last five years.
	
		
			   million 
			   Outstanding amount at 31 March  Change in borrowing 
			 2003-04 272.9 11.3 
			 2004-05 374.6 101.7 
			 2005-06 399.5 24.9 
			 2006-07 440.2 40.7 
			 2007-08 390.9 -49.3 
			  Source:  Quarterly Borrowing returns and Public Works Loan Board.

Waste Management: Energy

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she gives to local authorities on the assessment of the viability of new energy from waste developments with particular reference to  (a) the effect on recycling targets and  (b) environmental standards of those developments.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Waste Strategy 2007 sets out our policy on energy from waste, and provides guidance on the various energy from waste technologies, their different feedstocks, carbon emissions, and outputs. These are described in the 'summary guidance on energy from waste technology' (Annex E of Waste Strategy 2007).
	New incinerators have to meet the requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive (200/76/EC), Article 6(6) which requires that
	'any heat generated by the incineration or the co-incineration process shall be recovered as far as practicable'.
	Guidance published by DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government was first issued in early 2003 and deals with this, and all other requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive.
	However, technology choice is ultimately a matter for local authorities, and not DEFRA. Any plans for new energy from waste facilities must emerge out of local waste strategies, so that all options for reuse, recycling and composting can be explored first. We expect greenhouse gas emissions to be a key consideration of those developing waste to energy plants.
	Experience from many other European countries has shown that a vigorous energy from waste policy is compatible with high recycling rates (e.g. Netherlands 65 per cent./33 per cent.; Sweden 42 per cent./45 per cent.; Denmark 41 per cent./55 per cent.).
	All municipal waste incinerators are tightly regulated under the Waste Incineration Directive (WID) to protect public health and the environment. Emission standards for incinerators are tighter than for conventional power stations.
	With regard to energy from waste projects undertaken as part of DEFRA's Waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding scheme, the current Waste PFI criteria were issued in May 2006. Projects must meet these criteria in order to be considered for PFI credits. The criteria aim to ensure that PFI credits are allotted to projects that are value for money and enable the investment in residual waste infrastructure necessary if the demanding targets in the Landfill Directive and Waste Strategy for England 2007 are to be met.
	The following criteria are included:
	2. PFI credits are awarded to authorities primarily to deliver increased diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill. Proposals should demonstrate how the schemes:
	contribute to or complement longer-term national targets for recycling and composting as well as diversion of biodegradable and other municipal waste from landfill, indicating the amount of biodegradable and other municipal waste expected to be diverted from landfill over the whole life of the project;
	support or complement the authorities' plans for recycling set out in their Municipal Waste Management Strategies.
	5. The use of residual waste treatment options involving recovery, including energy from waste solutions, will have an integral role in treating the waste we cannot 'design out', re-use or recycle. Such options should be considered while also demonstrating that there is no future barrier to meeting reduction, reuse and recycling targets.
	6. Proposals should demonstrate that other relevant authorities, the public, and interested parties have been consulted and that there is a broad consensus supporting a recognised long term waste management strategy which is reflected in the proposed solution.
	10. Preferential consideration will be given to capital projects which focus on residual treatment plant only, including, but not limited to, Energy from Waste, Mechanical Biological Treatments and Anaerobic Digestion.
	The full criteria are available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/funding/pfi/pdf/pfi-criteria-aug08.pdf

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Autism

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will conduct an investigation into the potential effects of ultrasonic dispersal devices on young people with autism.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	At the present time, the Government do not have any plans to conduct an investigation into the potential effects of ultrasonic dispersal devices on young people with autism.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students had claimed education maintenance allowance for more than two years in each year since 2004-05.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who have operational responsibility for the EMA for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold information about payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 17 June 2008:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked; How many students have claimed Education Maintenance Allowance for more than two years in each year since 2004-05.
	In 2006/07 there were 44,167 learners who have previously received EMA payments in two previous academic years.
	In 2007/08, to date, there have been 52,895 learners who had previously received EMA payments in two previous academic years.
	I hope this information is useful and addresses your question.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many people in receipt of the education maintenance allowance subsequently did not complete the course of education for which the allowance was provided in each year since its inception;
	(2)  how many people were in receipt of the education maintenance allowance in each London borough in each year since its inception.

Jim Knight: The LSC operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) scheme for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	The LSC does not collect information specifically about completion rates for learners in receipt of EMA and there are no recent estimates available. However, it would be reasonable to expect improvements in completion rates to contribute to increased attainment by EMA recipients. Recent analysis commissioned by the LSC shows significant positive impacts on the attainment of young people taking Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications. These positive impacts have been particularly strong among more disadvantaged groups such as those from the most deprived neighbourhoods and those who had previously achieved less well academically.
	A copy of the results of this evaluation, with a summary of the key findings, was placed in the House Library on 3 December 2007.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 17 June 2008:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked;
	How many people were in receipt of the education maintenance allowance in each London borough in each year since its inception.
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	In the first year of national roll out EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas (young people who are 19 are entitled to receive EMA in certain circumstances). In 2005/06 EMA roll out continued and EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. In 2006/07 EMA is available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally.
	The following table shows EMA take-up for each London Local Authority area during each academic year since inception:
	
		
			  Area type  Area name  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08( 1) 
			 National England 297,259 429,627 527,319 542,710 
			   
			 Region London 50,896 70,480 83,262 85,170 
			   
			 LSC London Central 11,171 14,043 16,319 16,035 
			 LA Camden 1,550 1,749 1,982 1,954 
			 LA Islington 1,682 1,976 2,233 2,256 
			 LA Kensington and Chelsea 325 691 891 885 
			 LA Lambeth 2,791 3,406 3,822 3,666 
			 LA Southwark 2,647 3,138 3,668 3,484 
			 LA Wandsworth 1,607 1,948 2,202 2,223 
			 LA Westminster 569 1,135 1,521 1,567 
			   
			 LSC London East 18,871 24,229 27,630 28,458 
			 LA City of London 18 64 70 29 
			 LA Greenwich 2,161 2,479 2,795 2,875 
			 LA Hackney 2,841 3,262 3,345 3,390 
			 LA Lewisham 2,575 2,945 3,606 3,599 
			 LA Tower Hamlets 3,265 3,626 3,932 3,956 
			 LA Barking and Dagenham 1,408 1,917 2,315 2,443 
			 LA Bexley 834 1,552 1,893 2,036 
			 LA Havering 821 1,498 1,728 1,806 
			 LA Newham 3,774 4,601 5,095 5,216 
			 LA Redbridge 1,174 2,285 2,851 3,108 
			   
			 LSC London North 7,292 10,622 12,820 13,405 
			 LA Barnet 1,044 2,198 2,818 2,951 
			 LA Enfield 1,337 2,639 3,499 3,731 
			 LA Haringey 2,508 2,984 3,409 3,469 
			 LA Waltham Forest 2,403 2,801 3,094 3,254 
			   
			 LSC London South 4,253 8,332 10,711 11,062 
			 LA Bromley 936 1,698 2,059 2,052 
			 LA Croydon 1,375 2,874 3,828 3,966 
			 LA Kingston-Upon-Thames 370 706 907 930 
			 LA Merton 613 1,261 1,694 1,829 
			 LA Richmond-Upon-Thames 359 683 823 856 
			 LA Sutton 600 1,110 1,400 1,429 
			   
			 LSC London West 9,309 13,254 15,782 16,210 
			 LA Hammersmith and Fulham 1,247 1,429 1,634 1,589 
			 LA Brent 2,744 3,349 3,762 3,869 
			 LA Ealing 2,682 3,158 3,440 3,602 
			 LA Harrow 849 1,785 2,302 2,379 
			 LA Hillingdon 883 1,695 2,223 2,381 
			 LA Hounslow 904 1,838 2,421 2,390 
			 (1) Year to date28 August 2007 to 31 May 2008. 
		
	
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and to date in 2007/08 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm

Hosting For Overseas Students: Vetting

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in what circumstances families in England hosting foreign schoolchildren for fewer than 28 days are required to undergo a criminal records bureau check; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We expect UK host families involved in providing accommodation for foreign students in organised school exchange visits to undergo enhanced CRB checks. This is in line with guidance to schools in respect of volunteers involved in activities requiring an overnight stay, as set out in paragraph 4.56 of Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education. We also recommend that host families are given basic awareness of child protection issues and the contact details of the designated senior person within the school with responsibility for safeguarding issues.
	For other host families making private arrangements of fewer than 28 days, CRB Disclosures are not required in this area. We recommend however those involved in supervising or looking after the child are made aware of child protection issues as set out in What To Do if You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused. Organisations setting up such visits should consider developing guidance and child protection policies to enable host families to clearly understand the issues and their responsibilities.
	The new independent safeguarding (ISA) scheme will mean that from October 2009 those who provide care and accommodation for children under 18 for reward or in pursuance of an arrangement made by someone other than a member of the child's family will be engaged in regulated activity.
	This includes host family arrangements for fewer than 28 days made by other organisations providing tuition in languages or other subjects. It will be a criminal offence for a barred individual to engage in this activity and the person organising the host family placement will be required to check that the person providing the care and accommodation is ISA registered.

Learning and Skills Councils: Finance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has in relation to the discretionary spending powers and resources of the learning and skills councils.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The 2008-09 Grant Letter to the LSC sets out a record level of investment for post 16 education and training over the next three years, with some 11.5 billion in 2008-09, raising to over 12 billion in 2009-10, and over 12.5 billion in 2010-11. The LSC has discretion over how these budgets are spent to ensure that young people are able to access learning opportunities that meet their needs, and to meet the skill needs of individuals and employers at national, regional and local level. These decisions are taken within the framework set by the annual Grant Letter, issued jointly by the Secretaries of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and Children, Schools and Families; and relevant PSA targets.
	Our proposals in the White Paper 'Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver', published on 17 March 2008, will move resources and decision making powers away from the LSC. However, these changes require legislation and are unlikely to take full effect until the 2010/11 academic year. Until then the LSC remains legally responsible for funding and commissioning post-16 education and training.

Pre-School Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on the universal early years entitlement of 12.5 hours a week in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Local authority expenditure on under fives in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors is shown in the following table.
	The estimated 4 billion spent on the free entitlement in 2007-08 is both the largest amount ever spent by a Government on this age group and is sufficient to deliver high-quality early learning and care for all eligible three and four-year-olds in a range of settings.
	
		
			  Total expenditure on under fives in nursery schools, primary schools and the private, voluntary and independent sectors 
			million 
			 2001-02 2,698 
			 2002-03 2,757 
			 2003-04 3,040 
			 2004-05 3,275 
			 2005-06 3,473 
			 2006-07 (1)3,693 
			 2007-08 (2)4,027 
			 (1 )Provisional. (2) Estimated.  Note:  The figures are in cash terms and are an estimate of the expenditure on under fives in private, voluntary and independent settings and nursery schools and nursery classes.  Source: Table 8.5 of the Departmental Annual Report, 2008.

Pre-School Education: Finance

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been allocated for all childcare settings to provide the early years foundation stage; and how much and what proportion of this budget has been allocated to information technology.

Beverley Hughes: The available expenditure on nursery provision (including private/voluntary/independent settings, maintained nurseries and nursery units at maintained primaries) was estimated at 4,027 million in 2007-08 (figure from the 2008 Departmental Report, Table 8.5). It is not possible to break down the information technology funding by phase, but the total figure within the schools budget in 2007-08 was estimated at 617 million (DAR 2008 Table 8.3). This figure is capital funding and is separate from the revenue funding quoted above.

Teachers: Resignations

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many qualified teachers under the age of 60 employed in local authority maintained schools in  (a) Bexley and  (b) London left their posts in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The table provides the number of full and part-time regular teachers aged under 60 who left their posts in local authority maintained schools in the London Government Office Region in each year from 2001-02 to 2005-06, the latest information available. This information is not available by local authority.
	Teachers leaving their post are defined as those who left teaching service, including those retiring and those going on unpaid leave of absence such as maternity leave, or went to a teaching post outside of the local authority maintained sector in England, or who changed their school or employing authority. Teachers who left a full-time post to take up a part-time post or vice versa are also included.
	
		
			  Number of full and part-time regular teachers in the local authority maintained sector leaving their post( 1)  years: 2001-02 to 2005-06coverage: London Government Office Region 
			   Teachers 
			 2001-02 12,790 
			 2002-03 12,770 
			 2003-04 11,680 
			 2004-05 10,840 
			 2005-06 10,610 
			 (1) The number of teachers leaving their post may be slightly underestimated as around 10 to 20 per cent. of part-time teachers are missing from the data source. In addition it is believed that not all moves between schools within local authorities are recorded.  Source: Database of Teachers Records

Young Offenders: Administration of Justice

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether it is Government policy that individuals under the age of 18 years convicted of a serious offence will be dealt with primarily by children's services in the future;
	(2)  whether his Department has undertaken research into the effects on public confidence of the transfer of work with young offenders to local authorities' children's services and children's trusts;
	(3)  if he will take steps to transfer work with young offenders to children's trusts.

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what plans he has to incorporate work with young offenders into local authority children's services;
	(2)  what plans he has to transfer work with young offenders to children's trusts.

Beverley Hughes: The Children's Plan set out that we would publish a Youth Crime Action Plan that would examine what a more effective approach to prevention would look like and how to strengthen the approach we are taking to offending by young people. As part of this work we are examining a range of options that look at the roles of different agencies locally in tackling youth crime and our proposals will be set out in the forthcoming Youth Crime Action Plan.
	Many areas are already taking steps to closely integrate the work of their youth offending services with wider services for children and we have been looking at the role that children's services play in prevention of offending and re-offending. We have not conducted any specific research into the effects on public confidence on the policy options but we will be using the Youth Crime Action Plan to seek views from the public and practitioners on the proposals.

Youth Justice Annual Statistics 2006-07

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the Youth Justice Board to publish the Youth Justice Annual Statistics for 2006-07.

Beverley Hughes: The 2006-07 Youth Justice Board Workload Data (previously called Annual Statistics) were published on 15 May 2008. An electronic version is available at:
	http://www.yjb.gov.uk/publications/Resources/Downloads/Youth%20Justice%20Annual%20Workload%20Data%20200607.pdf

HEALTH

Asthma

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to primary care trusts on the management of asthma.

Ann Keen: The Department has issued an 'exemplar' on asthma management in children (National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services: Asthma 14 September 2004). This is part of the materials provided by the Department to support achievement of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (the NSF) which was published in 2004. Copies of both publication are available in the Library.
	While the 'exemplar' is not intended as guidance, it does illustrate one possible care pathway for a child with asthma as a way to illustrate the sort of aspects of asthma management, care and services that would enable local authority and primary healthcare trust partners in an area to meet the NSF standard on caring for the disabled child.
	No similar exemplar exists for adults.

Dental Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children were examined by an NHS dentist in each health authority area in each year since 2001, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) sex;
	(2)  how many adults were examined by an NHS dentist in each health authority in each year since 2001, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) sex.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the form requested.
	Information on the number of people registered with a national health service dentist, for adults and children, in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 are available in annex A of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006. Information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). Further breakdown of this information by age and sex would be available only at disproportionate cost.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006.
	This publication is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Under the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24-month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	Information on the number of patients seen by an NHS dentist for the specified period, for adults and children, in England, is available in table C1 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3, 31 December 2007 report. Information is available for the 24-month periods ending 31 March 2006, 31 March 2007, 30 June 2007, 30 September 2007, and 31 December 2007. The information is provided by SHA and by PCT. Further breakdown of this information by age and sex would be available only at disproportionate cost.
	This publication is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3

Epilepsy: Death

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a database to record deaths from epilepsy; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We have no plans to establish a database to record deaths from epilepsy. However, I have agreed to meet with the Epilepsy Bereaved to discuss this matter further.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of GP practices in England in 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the reply I gave on 3 April 2008.

Health Service Commissioner: Correspondence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the time taken by the Parliamentary Health Service Commissioner to answer constituency correspondence from hon. Members.

Ann Keen: It is not appropriate for the Department to answer questions on behalf of the ombudsman; she works independently of the Government. The question should be referred to her office at the following address:
	The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
	Millbank Tower
	Millbank
	London
	SW1P 4QP
	or by e-mail: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk

Health Services: Religion

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on healthcare chaplaincy in the NHS.

Ann Keen: No such research has been commissioned by the Department during the current parliamentary session, which commenced in November 2007.

Health Services: Religion

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what central allocation of funding was made to healthcare chaplaincy services in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Funding for the provision of health care chaplaincy services is built into the financial allocations to primary care trusts, who commission services on behalf of patients.
	The Department provides central funding to support the development of the chaplaincy work force. The information in the following table shows which faith groups received funding in the last three years. Funding arrangements were restructured in 2005, following an independent review of central funding of hospital chaplaincy, conducted by John James and involving all main faith-based groups. The new arrangements resulted in more support for minority faith groups by redistributing the existing budget more equitably to provide for the religious and spiritual needs of patients while in hospital. Prior to 2005-06, funding totalled 170,000 per annum.
	The distribution of funding for 2008-09 is yet to be determined.
	
		
			   
			  Organisation name  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06 
			 Free Churches Group at Churches Together in England 43,000 43,000 41,225 
			 United Synagogue Visitation Committee 43,000 43,000 41,225 
			 The Muslim Council of Great Britain 43,000 43,000 41,225 
			 The National Council of Vanik Associations (UK) 12,000 8,400 8,000 
			 The Hospital Chaplaincies Council 6,500 6,800 5,000 
			 UK Sikh Healthcare Chaplaincy Group 16,050 6,000 6,000 
			 Buddhist Healthcare Chaplaincy Group 5,000 4,000 4,000 
			 National Council of Hindu Temples 13,950 (1) 8,000 
			 National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai's of the UK 700 (1) (1) 
			 Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (1) (1) (2)5,000 
			 The Buddhist Society (1) (1) (2)4,000 
			 (1) Denotes no bid received. (2) Allocated but not claimed. 
		
	
	In addition to this specific budget, the Department also supports faith groups by way of Section 64 grant funding. Since 2006-07, 19 applications were received from faith groups, of which one was funded.

Incontinence: Children

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the progress that has been made towards achieving an integrated community-based paediatric continence service as set out in the Children's National Service Framework.

Ann Keen: The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (the NSF) is a 10-year programme to shape the way local authorities and primary care trusts provide or commission services for children. Copies of the NSF are available in the Library. Increasingly, we will judge the work of the authorities involved on the degree to which they have met the standards set out in the NSF. However, it would not be appropriate to establish a formal review of the implementation of the standard on continence services half way through.

Incontinence: Females

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance for the management of urinary incontinence in women.

Ann Keen: We have made no assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of the guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the management of female urinary incontinence.

Infectious Diseases: Prisoners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners were tested for  (a) HIV,  (b) AIDS,  (c) hepatitis A and  (d) hepatitis B in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 16 June  2008
	The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The Health Protection Agency collects surveillance data on infection with HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis viruses. However, if a prisoner is diagnosed with HIV or hepatitis, the fact that they are a prisoner at that time, or the specific prison in which they currently reside, is not routinely recorded on notifications.

Infectious Diseases: Prisoners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on testing on arrival in prisons for  (a) HIV,  (b) AIDS,  (c) hepatitis A and  (d) hepatitis B; and how frequently such testing is conducted during the course of sentences.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer16 June 2008
	Prisoners are not screened for infection with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A or hepatitis B on reception in prisons.
	Any prisoner concerned about the possibility of being infected with a blood borne virus or HIV can have a confidential discussion with a trained health practitioner in the prison, and, if they wish to be tested for infection, will have pre-test discussion, the test itself, and post-test discussion about the result. This is similar to the experience of any person requesting such a test in the community.

Infectious Diseases: Prisoners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure his Department has incurred on the treatment of prisoners for  (a) HIV,  (b) AIDS,  (c) hepatitis A and  (d) hepatitis B in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 16 June 2008
	The information requested is not held centrally.
	Health care provision for prisoners in England is commissioned by local national health service primary care trusts (PCTs). It is a matter for PCTs to decide how funding allocated to them should be used to provide services for their local population.

Infectious Diseases: Prisoners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the prison population  (a) are HIV positive,  (b) have AIDS,  (c) have hepatitis A and  (d) have hepatitis B.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 16 June 2008
	The information requested is not collected centrally.
	However, the prevalence of blood-borne virus (BBV) infection in injecting drug users (IDUs) in the community is used by the Department to estimate infection rates in prisoners.
	Therefore, from the data on the prevalence of BBVs in current and former IDUs from the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme (UAPMP) survey in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2006(1,) the Department estimates that, at any one time in the prison estate, there are currently around 1,000 male and 60 female prisoners living with HIV infection; around 250 male and approximately 15 female prisoners with an AIDS-defining illness; and around 16,400 male and around 940 female prisoners living with Hepatitis B.
	For Hepatitis A, in 2006, the total number of laboratory reports of Hepatitis A infection in England and Wales was 396. Therefore, the Department estimates that the number of acute Hepatitis A cases within the prison estate is currently very low.
	( 1 ) Source:
	Health Protection Agency 2007 Injecting Drug Users Summary Statistics, available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebPageHPAwebAutoList Name/Page/1202115502904#f2

Mental Health Services: Pensioners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to improve the quality of mental health care for pensioners.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2008
	We are improving mental health care for older people including pensioners through our new National Dementia Strategy and Implementation Plan, which will be out for consultation this month. The aim of the strategy is to ensure that significant improvements across three key areas in relation to dementia services: improved awareness; earlier diagnosis and intervention; and higher quality of care.
	In addition to this, in 2006, we produced Everybody's Business, Integrated Mental Health Services for Older Adults: A service development guide, which set out the key components of a comprehensive mental health service. Copies of the guide are available in the Library. Since April 2006, the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) has rewarded general practitioner practices for maintaining a register of patients diagnosed with dementia and, more recently, the Care Services Improvement Partnership, our social care implementation arm, has been active in rolling out the Let's Respect campaign which provides guidance for general hospital staff on older people's mental health.

Muscular Dystrophy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent on research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what plans he has to fund research and clinical trials into Duchenne muscular dystrophy for the next three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. MRC spend on research relevant to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			million 
			 1997-98 0.5 
			 1998-99 0.5 
			 1999-2000 0.6 
			 2000-01 1.3 
			 2001-02 2 
			 2002-03 1.8 
			 2003-04 2.4 
			 2004-05 2.0 
			 2005-06 2.1 
			 2006-07 1.7 
		
	
	Much of the muscular dystrophy research supported by the MRC is on-going.
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual NHS supported research projects undertaken during that time, including a number concerned with DMD, are available on the archived national research register at:
	https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx
	The Department has additionally provided 1.6 million for a four year project aimed at developing a new treatment for DMD; and through its Policy Research Programme is funding a 1.1 million long term neurological condition research initiative. One of the studies commissioned as part of the initiative is specifically concerned with DMD.
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy Best Research for Best Health and the establishment of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has resulted in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities. Two of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres formed last yearat Imperial College and at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Institute for Child Healthplan over the next five years to undertake research on DMD therapy.

Muscular Dystrophy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the availability of new  (a) drugs and  (b) treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Ann Keen: We have made no recent estimate of the number of people with this condition.
	While there are several drugs undergoing clinical trials around the world, there are currently no drugs available for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

NHS: Reorganisation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation took place prior to the publication of the Next Stage Review Interim report; whom was consulted; and how they were selected.

Ann Keen: Prior to the publication of the interim report, Our NHS, Our Future: NHS Next Stage Review copies of which are available in the Library, Lord Darzi: visited and spoke to 1,500 national health service staff in 17 NHS organisations across the country;
	on 18 September 2007, took part in a nationwide day of detailed discussions on the priorities for the NHS with 1,000 patients, public and health and social care staff in nine different towns and cities;
	met with representatives of 250 stakeholder groups representing the full diversity of our population and staff;
	read more than 1,400 letters and e-mails from people up and down the country; and
	brought together over 2,000 clinicians to form clinical working groups in every part of the country to focus on discussing how best to plan and provide care for patients.
	The interim report was based on these views, visits and discussions.
	Each deliberative event on 18 September was attended by a regionally representative sample of members of the public (demographic data were taken from census data), with specific quotas set on health status (including use of certain services in the past two years). This ensured that there was a broad mix of members of the public, many of whom had used services and were in a position to give views based on their own experience of health care provision. Participants were recruited off the street, to ensure a wide representation of the public. Members of NHS staff were nominated to attend by their strategic health authority.

NHS: Telecommunications

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the contingency arrangements NHS trusts have made in the event that the supplier of their telecommunications infrastructure for patients is unable to fulfil its contractual obligations.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is not party to the contracts made with any of the companies that provide the bedside telephone service to patients and it has not made an assessment of the contingency arrangements national health service trusts have in place, should their service provider be unable to fulfil its contractual obligations.
	It is the responsibility of the NHS trust to consider contingency arrangements, should it wish to continue to provide this service to its patients.
	The bedside telephone is an additional service to that which existed in the past so alternatives already exist in hospitals. It is still possible for relatives and friends to contact a hospital via its main switchboard, and then be transferred to the nurses' station on a ward to inquire about their relative's health, as they have always been able to do in the past.
	Mobile phone usage is allowed in specified areas of the hospital and payphones also exist as an alternative for patients.

Obesity

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of  (a) children and  (b) adults were (i) obese and (ii) overweight when measured by body mass index in (A) Hemel Hempstead constituency, (B) the Dacorum Borough Council area, (C) the East of England and (D) England at the latest date for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the exact format requested.
	Information on the percentage of children and adults who are obese or overweight in Hemel Hempstead constituency is not available.
	Information on the percentage of children who are obese or overweight and the percentage of adults who are overweight, in Dacorum local authority, is not available.
	A model-based estimate of the prevalence of adults who are obese in Dacorum local authority was not found to be statistically different than the national estimate. This information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Model-based estimates of obesity prevalence, 2003-05 
			   Percentage 
			  Dacorum local authority  
			 Estimated prevalence of obesity 23.2 
			 95 per cent. lower confidence interval 21.4 
			 95 per cent. upper confidence interval 25.1 
			   
			 England (1)  
			 Estimated prevalence of obesity 23.6 
			 95 per cent. lower confidence interval 23.0 
			 95 per cent. upper confidence interval 24.2 
			 (1) The national estimate is derived directly from the Health Surveys for England 2003-05 (with Confidence Intervals) and therefore is not a model-based estimate.  Source: Model-Based Estimates Of Healthy Lifestyles Behaviours, 2003-05. Neighbourhood Statistics, Office for National Statistics (ONS) 
		
	
	Information on the proportion of children that are obese or overweight aged 4-5 and 10-11 years in East of England is collected through the National Child Measurement Programme and can be found in table B, page 38, National Child Measurement Programme: 2006-07 school year, headline results which was published on February 21 2008. This publication has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the percentage of adults that are obese or overweight in East of England is collected through the Health Survey for England and can be found in table 5.3, page 99, Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 1 Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in adults, which was published on January 31 2008. This publication is available in the Library.
	Information on the proportion of children aged 4-5 and 10-11 years that are obese or overweight in England is also collected through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and can be found in table 1, page 3, National Child Measurement Programme: 2006-07 school year, headline results.
	Information on the percentage of adults that are obese or overweight in England is also collected through the Health Survey for England and can be found in table 5.2, page 98, Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 1 Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in adults.

Organs: Donors

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how his Department plans to measure the effectiveness of the Give and Let Live donor education programme;
	(2)  whether the Give and Let Live donor education programme is a pilot programme.

Ann Keen: The Give and Let Live teachers pack and website was developed in 2006-07, and piloted in some schools following consultation and evaluation. The pack was then offered to all secondary schools in September 2007. Further evaluation of the pack is currently underway.

Organs: Donors

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) 16 to 20 and  (b) 21 to 25 years are included on the (i) British bone marrow register, (ii) NHS blood donor register and (iii) NHS organ donor register.

Ann Keen: NHS Blood and Transplant have provided information in the following table of the number of people aged 16-20 years and 21-25 years who are on the British Bone Marrow Register, registered to donate blood and on the Organ Donor Register.
	
		
			   Number of people registered on the British bone marrow register 
			 18 to 20 years(1) 1,460 
			 21 to 25 years 20,830 
			 (1) Minimum lower age to join registry is 18 years old. 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of people registered  as blood donors (England North Wales) 
			 17 to 20 years(1) 73,300 
			 21 to 25 years 162,400 
			 (1) Minimum lower age to join registry is 17 years old. 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of people  on organ donor register 
			 16 to 20 years(1) 86,3361 
			 21 to 25 years 1,378,685 
			 (1) There is no lower age limit for joining registry.

Organs: Donors

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what process was used for selecting the marketing company for the Give and Let Live donor education programme;
	(2)  how his Department plans to measure the performance of the marketing company for the Give and Let Live donor education programme.

Ann Keen: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) followed the Central Office of Information (COI) procurement procedures to tender for the Give and Let Live education pack and website. The process selected three agencies from the COI Official Journal of the European Union framework agreement. Each agency was invited to pitch to a panel consisting of representatives from NHSBT and COI. A specialist education agency was appointed.
	NHSBT and COI regularly monitor the work of the specialist education agency to ensure it is following the project plan and continuing to meet the project objectives.
	Independent evaluation of the Give and Let Live pack and website is currently underway.

Paramedical Staff

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of paramedics qualifying in 2007 who have not been employed by the NHS.

Ann Keen: The information is not collected centrally.
	Up until this year ambulance trusts were responsible for training their workforce locally.

Respiratory System

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to improve the rates of early diagnosis for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ann Keen: The Department is currently considering advice from the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) External Reference Group on proposed markers of good practice from prevention through to end of life care. This advice will be considered by Ministers and options developed for implementation. These will include options for early diagnosis of people with COPD and raising awareness of the disease.

Respiratory System

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated direct cost to the NHS was of providing care for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in  (a) County Durham and  (b) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information by Region is not collected centrally.
	For England(1), the latest estimate published is 492 million per annum for direct costs to national health service as at 2000-01.
	 Source:
	(1) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence estimate (based on Britton 2003, and using 2000-01 data). Further information is available at:
	http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/59/suppl_1/i192

Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of cases of post-operative bleeding after heart surgery operations  (a) in total and  (b) as a proportion of procedures performed in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Completed years dataSociety for Cardiothoracic Surgery Great Britain and Ireland 
			   Cases  Post-op bleeding  Percentage of all cases 
			 2004-05 27,871 1,447 3.82 
			 2005-06 36,188 1,424 3.94 
			 2006-07 35,792 1,509 4.22 
			  Source: Central Cardiac Audit Database 
		
	
	The Adult Cardiac Surgical module of the Central Cardiac Audit Database identifies bleeding when it requires re-operation post cardiac surgery. The precise definition in the dataset is 're-operation for bleeding or tamponade'.

Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many transplant operations there were in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) type of organ and  (b) strategic health authority area; and how many viable human organs available under the NHS Organ Donor Register were not used for a transplant operation in each such year.

Ann Keen: The number of transplant operations carried out in each year since 1997, by organ type and strategic health authority (SHA), is shown in the following tables.
	For information on the number of viable organs available under the NHS Organ Donor Register that were not used for a transplant operation, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1824W.
	
		
			  Organ transplants, United Kingdom, 1997  to  2007 ,  by year and organ transplanted 
			  Organ  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  T otal 
			 Kidney 1,666 1,583 1,581 1,671 1,691 1,658 1,697 1,821 1,739 1,911 2,011 19,029 
			 Pancreas 9 0 3 0 6 8 12 10 15 25 51 139 
			 Kidney/pancreas 21 22 31 32 41 52 42 69 102 138 196 746 
			 Heart 264 261 227 204 166 158 148 165 146 156 129 2,024 
			 Lung(s) 103 89 110 98 93 112 135 119 129 119 121 1,228 
			 Heart/lungs 43 51 49 33 32 16 15 15 8 3 8 273 
			 Liver 659 651 679 664 675 701 625 716 592 625 628 7,215 
			 Other combinations 4 6 5 1 6 1 1 0 18 5 7 41 
			 Total 2,779 2,676 2,695 2,709 2,717 2,717 2,683 2,930 2,747 2,999 3,161 30,813 
		
	
	
		
			  Organ transplants, United Kingdom, 1997  to  2007 by year and SHA 
			  Strategic health authority  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  T otal 
			 East Midlands 96 96 84 104 93 122 80 102 102 101 120 1,100 
			 East of England 207 228 211 197 223 191 207 245 205 250 216 2,380 
			 London 821 766 771 751 782 751 722 819 698 880 900 8,661 
			 North East 236 193 219 214 208 208 225 218 210 204 225 2,360 
			 North West 230 245 245 280 248 230 248 270 276 304 255 2,831 
			 South Central 168 113 135 159 113 119 127 134 166 170 227 1,631 
			 South East coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South West 101 124 104 90 119 122 153 143 155 164 169 1,444 
			 West Midlands 357 316 321 293 308 361 307 366 338 347 374 3,688 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 238 260 258 269 279 295 286 304 293 258 276 3,016 
			 Wales 64 80 59 77 91 52 84 88 82 88 113 878 
			 Scotland 190 238 248 232 216 216 199 183 192 189 244 2,357 
			 Northern Ireland 51 27 40 43 37 50 45 58 30 44 42 467 
			 Total 2,779 2,676 2,695 2,709 2,717 2,717 2,683 2,930 2,747 2,999 3,161 30,813

Waiting Lists: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median waiting time was for  (a) an out-patient first appointment and  (b) an in-patient appointment in (i) Bexley and (ii) Greater London in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the median waiting time for an out-patient appointment and an in-patient appointment in Bexley care trust area and in the London strategic health authority (SHA) area at April 2008-09.
	
		
			  In-patient and out-patient median waits at April 2008-09 
			   Median wait (weeks) 
			  Organisation name  Out-patient  In-patient 
			 Bexley Care Trust 2.7 4.9 
			 London SHA 2.3 4.2 
			  Source: Department of Health Monthly Monitoring Return  Commissioner-based (April 2008-09). 
		
	
	Today, patients can expect a maximum 13-week wait for their first out-patient appointment and a maximum six-month wait for an operation from a decision to admit. These improvements are a result of a combination of record investment, the hard work of national health service staff and changes in the way the NHS works.
	By December 2008, no one should have to wait more than 18 weeks from the time they are referred to the start of their treatment, unless it is clinically appropriate or they choose to wait longer. Delivery of the 18-week waiting time standard will reduce unnecessary delays and improve patients' experience of the whole journey.

Wheelchairs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to issue a response to the wheelchair services programme as part of the review of the efficiency care services delivery.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 17 June 2008
	A substantial volume of data, with regard to wheelchair services has been collected and analysed through the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services (TCEWS) Programme to develop a business case for change.
	The detailed business case is currently under consideration. The TCEWS Programme is working closely with senior executives in the national health service to agree the most appropriate way forward.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated to Afghanistan Growth Fund; and who its contributors are.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated 30 million to the Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility (AICF, formerly the Afghanistan Growth Fund). Roshan Telecom, a private Afghan firm and the country's largest taxpayer, has committed US$100,000. Further private sector investment is expected as the AICF develops. Discussions with other donors are ongoing to finalise pledges.

Africa EU Strategic Partnership

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what commitments he has made to supporting the Africa EU Strategic Partnership.

Gareth Thomas: A comprehensive action plan to implement the joint Africa-European Union strategy was agreed at the EU Africa summit in Lisbon in December 2007. This plan has eight key themes, each with a set of priority actions to be taken forward through EU-Africa Partnerships. The UK Government are working with other member states and the African Union to ensure that sound progress is made in all areas. Plans are also in hand to ensure that civil society, both in Africa and Europe, is able to monitor progress and contribute ideas. Under arrangements agreed by member states, the UK Government are leading for the EU in co-ordinating the monitoring of progress against one of the key themes: the millennium development goals. An initial meeting of the European Commission and member states took place in Brussels on 28 May.

Africa: Borders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to facilitate trade across borders in southern Africa.

Gareth Thomas: DFID works in southern Africa to make it easier, quicker, and cheaper to trade across borders through its Regional Trade Facilitation programme (RTFP). This is helping to raise economic growth rates, create jobs and reduce poverty in southern Africa. The RTFP, together with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), is implementing the following specific measures:
	1. Opening three one-stop border posts in the region, between: Zambia and Zimbabwe; Mozambique and South Africa; and Lesotho and South Africa. These will reduce transit times for exports and imports, and bring down transport costs which will make Southern African producers more competitive.
	2. Providing technical and financial assistance to address transport and transit bottlenecks in the region, particularly focusing on improving infrastructure and reducing unnecessary red tape.
	3. Supporting COMESA, EAC and SADC to simplify and modernise customs procedures and legislation and to introduce a single administrative document for Customs.

Africa: Economic Growth

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role the Investment Climate Facility has played in strengthening Africa's business environment since 2006; and what assessment he has made of the impact this has had on foreign direct investment in the region.

Douglas Alexander: The Investment Climate Facility (ICF) became fully operational mid-2007. By March 2008, 11 projects had been approved for ICF support. The ICF is already working in five countries and on two regional programmes. Extra information on activities of the ICF is available at
	www.icfafrica.org.
	It is too early to assess the impact of the work of the ICF on foreign direct investment flows.

Africa: Economic Situation

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of people living on less than one dollar a day in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gillian Merron: Around 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were estimated to be living on less than one dollar a day in 2004(1).
	(1) Most recent estimate availablesource: Global Economic Prospects 2008, World Bank.
	http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGEP2008/Resources/chapter-1.pdf

Africa: EU Water Initiative

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the EU Water Initiative in Africa has made; and what the role of the UK Government has been in developing proposals for its reform.

Gillian Merron: The EU Water Initiative has helped a number of African countries prepare their own water and sanitation plans and has played a key role on creation of the EU Water Facility that makes funds available for water and sanitation. The total fund contributed by the European Commission to the EU Water Facility is 500 million. This will enable 20 million people to gain access to safe water and 9 million to improved sanitation.
	The EU Water Initiative Africa Working Group, which the UK Government's Department for International Development currently co-chairs with France, Austria and the African Ministers Council for Water, (AMCOW) aims to improve coordination between donors, developing country governments and civil society organisations. The Africa Working Group has also played a key role in mapping member state contributions to water and sanitation in Africa. Through our involvement in the Africa Working Group, we have improved the EU's relationship with the AMCOW, to the extent that water will be a specific focus at the next meeting of the African Heads of State in July 2008.
	A number of key policy reforms recommended in a DFID/German funded review of the EU Water Initiative were approved in August 2007. These reforms will result in greater focus on delivery in Africa and setting clear and measurable targets, which will help the EU Water Initiative to add real value and become more accountable to its stakeholders.

Africa: Females

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle gender equality and promote the rights and political participation of women in Africa.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government are supporting gender equality and women's rights in Africa through our dialogue with development partners, and through our country programmes working with governments and civil society. Gender is mainstreamed in our Country Action Plans and across all our programmes, with particular attention paid to sex disaggregated data and outcomes. Much of our work is focused on MDG 3 and includes an emphasis on women and girls' access to education, economic opportunities, public services, political participation and decision-making, and maternal mortality. The work that we do supports the Africa Union Africa Women's Protocol on Women's Rights, which a number of African governments have ratified.
	The UK Government's Department for International Development is supporting a number of programmes to specifically promote the rights and political participation of women. More details of our work on political participation and gender can be found on our website in a publication called 'Governance, Development and Democratic Polities' which can be found at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/governance.pdf.
	Additional information can be found at the Department for International Development's Gender Equality Plan at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/gender-equality-plan-2007.pdf
	and an accompanying publication 'Gender Equality: At the Heart of Development' at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/gender-equality.pdf

Africa: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle HIV and AIDS in Africa; and what support in this area is being provided direct to governments of African developing countries.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development funds government, non-governmental and multilateral organisations to strengthen and deliver a wide range of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services across African countries. Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world (2008-15) outlines UK action globally and highlights the need to prevent new HIV infections as well as maintain treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS. The strategy commits 6 billion to strengthening health systems and services until 2015, a significant proportion of which will be spent in Africa. A copy of the updated strategy and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.
	DFID provides direct support to national HIV and AIDS strategies and plans in a number of African countries via technical assistance and financing (eg Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria). DFID also provides funding towards HIV/AIDS in Africa via multilateral institutions, such as UNAIDS, WHO and the World Bank, and global funds. For example the UK has committed 1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for Africa and other regions.

Africa: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what process is followed for awarding contracts for aid projects in Africa; and what criteria are used for determining the best tender.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to fair, transparent, and open competition. All contracts above certain financial thresholds are tendered through international competition, in accordance with the EU Public Procurement directives and the code of good practice issued by the Office of Government Commerce. This involves:
	publishing a contract notice in the  Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), allowing at least 37 days for the submission of expressions of interest;
	issuing invitations to tender (ITTs), allowing at least 40 days for bidders to submit proposals;
	evaluating proposals;
	making decision of award; and
	awarding the contract.
	DFID selects the tender that offers best value for money based on an evaluation of criteria covering both technical and commercial aspects as set out in the invitation to tender letter.
	DFID often uses suppliers that have been pre-qualified through competition to stand ready to provide services as required.
	For contracts valued below 90,319, DFID may choose to run a mini-competition by inviting a number of suppliers to submit a proposal. Alternatively we may approach a contractor directly to undertake a specific piece of work.

Africa: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what UK aid programmes are aimed at promoting good governance in African countries.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development's 2006 White Paper 'Making Governance Work for the Poor' put governance considerations at the heart of all UK aid programmesa copy can be found at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/wp2006/default.asp.
	DFID works with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to produce Country Governance Analysis reports looking at the quality of governance in all major partner countries in Africa. These inform DFID programmes to improve governance through building state capability, improving accountability, and encouraging responsiveness to citizens, needs.
	DFID has carefully targeted governance improvement programmes in all our focal countries in Africa. In 2007 DFID produced a publication titled 'Governance, Development and Democratic Politics: DFID's work in building more effective states'. This publication provides much more detail on our approach to governance and gives specific examples of programmes promoting good governance in our partner countries and can be found at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/governance.pdf

Africa: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which contractors received funding from his Department in the 2007-08 financial year in relation to projects in Africa.

Douglas Alexander: The following table contains the names of contractors who received funding from DFID during 2007-08 in relation to projects in Africa. This does not include payments made to contractors for low-value contracts issued by individual departments and overseas offices under delegated authority. These details are not held centrally and could not be produced without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Adam Smith International Ltd
	Allison George
	Andrew Cordery
	Andrew Lovegrove
	Antonio Bojanic
	Atos Consulting Limited
	Barry Barnwell
	Bearpark Associates
	BMB Mott Macdonald
	British Council
	Cambridge Education Consultants
	Cardiff And Vale Enterprise
	Care International Uk
	Centrex
	Charles Kendall And Partners Limited
	Chemonics
	Chris Gale
	Chris Rampe
	Christopher Adam
	Coffey International Development Ltd
	OSU Cooker
	Constella Futures
	Cowi Mozambique
	D P Russell
	DAI Europe Limited
	David Child
	David Smith
	Development In Practice
	ECI Africa Consulting (PTY) LTD
	Emerging Markets Group
	Ernst And Young Ghana
	Family Health International
	Footbridge Consulting
	FRR Ltd
	Garlic (UK) Ltd
	Gianni Brusati
	GRM International Ltd
	Harewelle International Limited
	Health Partners International
	Helm Corporation Ltd
	Henry Vagg
	HLSP Limited
	HTSPE Ltd
	I2i CONSULTANTS
	Imani Development International Ltd
	Intematical (PTY) Ltd
	Interact Worldwide
	Intermedia NCG
	International Organisation Development
	ITAD Ltd
	JAN Consulting Ltd
	John Olympio
	Keith Biddle
	Kolawole A Sofola
	KPMG East Africa
	KPMG Mozambique
	Lisa Curtis Associates
	Liverpool Associates in Trop. Health
	LTS International Ltd
	Malaria Consortium
	Masdar (UK) Limited
	Mokoro Limited
	Moore Stephens LLP
	Mr G and Mrd E Horlacher
	Natural Resources Institute
	Nordic Consultant
	NPIA
	Overseas Development Institute
	Oxford Policy Management
	Peter Mills
	PKF
	PLW Development Solutions Ltd
	Population Services International
	PricewaterhouseCoopers
	PricewaterhouseCoopers Africa
	Public Administration International
	PricewaterhouseCoopers Portugal
	RW England
	REPIM
	Rosemary Bellow
	Saana Consulting Ltd
	Social Development Direct Ltd
	SRK Consultancy
	The British Council Sudan
	The Crown Agents For Overseas Administrations And Governments Ltd
	The Environment And Development Group
	Triple Line Consulting Ltd
	University College London
	University Of Wolverhampton
	Uganda Telecom Ltd
	Vincent De Boer
	W S Atkins International Ltd
	Wendy Thomson
	Wild Dog Ltd
	Witek Nowosielski
	WSP International Limited

Africa: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the 200 million emergency response aid for Africa in 2007-08 was distributed.

Gareth Thomas: The figures showing the distribution of the 2007-08 humanitarian contributions in Africa are not yet available.

Africa: Politics and Government

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to promote good governance amongst pan-African institutions.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) is working to support the efforts of pan-African institutions to improve their internal governance and to promote governance on the continent. DFID is providing support to the Pan-African Parliament to strengthen its financial and human resource systems, and to the African Union Commission to establish efficient and transparent fund handling processes.
	DFID is working with pan-African institutions to improve governance on the continent in a variety of ways, including providing over 1 million to the African Peer Review Mechanism Secretariat Trust Fund, which supports the running of this important continental governance programme of the African Union. DFID has engaged the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, a South African-based NGO, to assist the African Union Commission and Pan-African Parliament to improve their election monitoring capacity. DFID is also assisting the African Development Bank, through a 1 million programme, to improve the quality of the governance support the bank offers its African member countries.

Africa: Regional Trade Facilitation Program

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme on fair-trade exports in southern Africa since 2005.

Gareth Thomas: As a result of the work carried out by the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP), smallholder's market access on fair terms, for many commodities, has improved. More small scale producers are benefiting, and export volumes are rising, both to South African and international markets. For example, the exports of organic groundnuts to Europe increased from zero to 126 metric tonnes between 2005 and 2007; and South Africa's tea imports from Tanzania increased by 600 tonnes between 2005 and 2006.

African Development Bank

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take in conjunction with the African Development Bank to improve the regional infrastructure in the region in partnership with the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa.

Gillian Merron: In December 2007, the UK Government's Department for International Development contributed 417 million to the African Development Fund of the African Development Bank and became its largest donor. Infrastructure financing is predicted to reach more than $5 billion under the African Development Fund 2008-10 and the amount available to be committed to regional projects will increase from 15 per cent. to 17.5 per cent. of total funding.
	In 2007, DFID also doubled its funding to the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa Secretariat hosted at the African Development Bank in 2007, including providing a secondee. DFID is also supporting other initiatives to help the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa be effective, helping leverage increased financing from others. DFID committed 6 million to the Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility hosted at the African Development Bank to help get regional infrastructure in Africa ready for financing. The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa is making good progress. Its annual report for 2007, soon to be published, will show that funding by its members increased by 54 per cent. to $11.9 billion in 2007, up from $7.7 billion in 2006.
	DFID committed 7 million to the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund in 2007. DFID nominated the African Development Bank to take up its position on the Project Financiers Group of the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund. This will help with African ownership and improve co-ordination between EU member states and the African Development Bank.

Bangladesh: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what industrial sectors in Bangladesh are receiving aid under a millennium development goal banner.

Douglas Alexander: Department for International Development (DFID) support to industrial sectors in Bangladesh is aimed at creating stronger private sector growth that directly benefits the poor, under the Millennium Development Goal banner of halving poverty by 2015. In partnership with the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC), the UK is co-funding the South Asian Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), which in Bangladesh provides aid to the light engineering sector via small foundries and steel mills; the ready-made garments industry; and the poultry industry. These industries are highly labour intensive, offering huge potential for poverty eradication through employment generation for the poor.

Bangladesh: Storms

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what organisations his Department engaged to disperse relief supplies in Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr in 2007.

Shahid Malik: UK assistance for relief supplies after Cyclone Sidr was channelled through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). DFID also provided some relief items in kind, from its stocks in Dubai. These items were disbursed by HelpAge, CARE Bangladesh, Oxfam, Save the Children, and BRAC (Building Resources Across Communities). Full details of UK support following Cyclone Sidr can be found on the DFID website: www.dfid.gov.uk.

Burma: Storms

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his ASEAN counterparts on the humanitarian response to the situation in Burma.

Douglas Alexander: Since the outset of the humanitarian crisis in Burma, the UK has engaged in intensive diplomatic exchanges with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries. In the weeks following the cyclone I have both spoken to and met with ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan several times, and the Foreign Secretary liaised closely with his counterparts in the ASEAN region, speaking with his Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian and Singaporean counterparts. Lord Malloch-Brown and the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Malik) pressed the need for access during their visit to the region on 17 May 2008. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs spoke with her Vietnamese counterpart and has raised the issue with the Governments of Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines directly. In addition, all our embassies across South East Asia have been stressing the need for a concerted international humanitarian response to the crisis in their contacts with host Governments.

Burma: Storms

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to ensure that aid for those affected by the Burmese cyclone has reached the most severely affected areas; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The main objective of the multi-agency humanitarian effort in response to Cyclone Nargis is to reach all affected populations as quickly as possible. The aid operation is scaling-up all the time. The UK is delivering its aid through United Nations, non-governmental organisation (NGO) and Red Cross partners, who have expanding coverage in the affected areas. More than 10 million of UK funds have been allocated to NGOs. They are working closely with local authorities to identify the worst affected populations and to reach them with clean fresh drinking water, sanitation facilities, basic health care and emergency shelter and agricultural assistance in the Delta.
	The UK has given 5 million to the United Nations for their logistics operation to ensure that the UN has adequate helicopters, boats, ships and trucks to transport aid into and around Burma, to the most hard-hit areas of the country. Additionally we have directly provided 14 flat-bottomed boats which are operating to good effect to deliver supplies to remote parts of the Delta.
	The UK is also working closely with the UN and ASEAN countries to press the Burmese Government to open better access to the Delta. Whilst access is still not good enough, increasing numbers of international staff and assistance are beginning to reach those in the worst affected areas. Progress however remains fragile and could be reversed.

China: Africa

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how his Department plans to encourage China to support development in Africa.

Gareth Thomas: The huge growth in China's trade and investment in recent years are providing new opportunities for Africa. China is now a major world economic power and a growing and important partner for many African countries. Over the last three years my Department, in partnership especially with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), has been building a strong relationship with China on a range of development issues, including Africa. We believe it is important for China and the UK to work together to support the achievement of the millennium development goals, particularly in Africa.
	The Department for International Development's (DFID) plans include: (i) encouraging China to work with other international development partners and join or endorse international initiatives that improve the effectiveness of international support to Africa; (ii) exchanging knowledge and experience on development assistance so that both sides can improve the quality of their support; (iii) identifying specific areas where we can work together such as in rural roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and (iv) exploring how the UK and China can ensure that the outcomes from high level global meetings, such as the UN MDG Call to Action meeting in September, accelerate progress towards the achievement of the MDGs.

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide this information as we do not keep separate records of numbers of chairs, desks and other office furnishings purchased, and to provide this data would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Inquiries

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what independent inquiries have been commissioned by his Department in the last five years; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each such inquiry.

Douglas Alexander: No independent inquiries have been undertaken by the Department for International Development in the last five years.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Gillian Merron: DFID does not separately identify routine post items sent overseas via the Royal Mail. However, the majority of our post to our overseas offices is sent using the Foreign and Commonwealth Office bag service, and the sums paid for this have been as follows:
	
		
			   
			 2001-02 16,000 
			 2002-03 27,000 
			 2003-04 126,000 
			 2004-05 227,000 
			 2005-06 203,000 
			 2006-07 33,000 
			 2007-08 32,000 
		
	
	The aforementioned amounts represent the financial year in which FCO charged DFID for the service, not necessarily the year in which the items were sent. It also includes heavy items rather than normal mail, but these cannot be separately identified.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 657-60W, on departmental public participation, what steps  (a) have been taken and  (b) are planned as a result of each piece of work listed.

Gillian Merron: Information on the past and planned use of each piece of audience research detailed in the previous answer is as follows.
	
		
			  Research work  Steps taken  Steps planned 
			 Solutions Strategy Research (April to June 2007) Analysis used to inform development of communications activity around ethical consumerism activity around ethical consumerism in February 2008. This research provides useful insight into consumers current knowledge and understanding of shopping ethically and how this may have an impact on people's livelihoods within developing countries. The analysis will continue to inform future communications activity. 
			 Ipsos MORI (March to May 2008) Analysis not yet complete. Analysis will form basis of an audience segmentation model to inform, direct and provide a basis for communications on the work of DFID. This is in line with Government communications best practice. 
			 GfK NOP (March to June 2008) Analysis not yet complete. Trend data will inform, direct and provide a basis for communications on the work of DFID aimed at young people.

Developing Countries: Borders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what joint working his Department has undertaken with COMESA and USAID to strengthen border controls of developing countries which are vulnerable to petty corruption.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is working through its Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) to strengthen border controls by setting up three one stop border posts (OSPBs) between: Zambia and Zimbabwe; Mozambique and South Africa; and Lesotho and South Africa. The RTFP is partnering with the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to set up these OSBPs.
	The OSBPs will replace border processing facilities (for incoming and outgoing traffic) on either side of two countries with a single border control management system and better scanning facilities. A major benefit is that the multiple bureaucratic requirements that currently provide opportunities for corruption are also reduced.
	USAID, through its Trade Hub in Gaborone (Botswana), is also working to strengthen border controls. Their current focus is on improving the Trans Kalahari (Nambia, Botswana and South Africa) and the Maputo (Mozambique and South Africa) development corridors. DFID does not have a formal collaboration with USAID, but we do regularly exchange information on our trade facilitation activities.

Developing Countries: Children

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to support progress on Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, relating to child mortality and maternal health, at the June European Council.

Gareth Thomas: In response to UK lobbying, the EU agreed at the recent General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to prepare an EU Agenda for Action on the MDGs for the June European Council. The UK has been working hard to secure an ambitious document with specific targets, milestones and financial commitments in key areas including health. This agenda is now nearing finalisation and the current text includes several EU targets on maternal health and child mortality, including ensuring 21 million more births are attended by skilled personnel by 2010.
	We will be urging EU member states to endorse the Agenda for Action at the June European Council, and for this to be reflected in the Council Conclusions. By setting a high standard at the Council, the EU will create the momentum for other countries to do more at the G8 and UN meetings later this year, particularly the UN Secretary-General's MDG summit in September.

Emerging Africa Infrastructure Facility

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Facility to the development of economic infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gareth Thomas: The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) has committed to lend US $300 million, of which US $60 million represents equity provided by DFID, for a number of investments in economic infrastructure and improved services in sub-Saharan Africa. These loans are helping to mobilise more than US $5 billion of private investment to deliver port, energy and agricultural facilities as well as improved electricity and communications services for more than three million people in Africa. The performance of EAIF was recently assessed, together with other private sector infrastructure investment facilities supported by DFID, in an independent review commissioned by DFID's evaluation team. Evaluation Report EV684, March 2008 is available online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/performance/files/ev684.pdf

Ethiopia: Economic Situation

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps have been taken to tackle food shortages and poverty in Ethiopia in the last two years.

Gillian Merron: In 2006-07 and 2007-08 the Department for International Development provided assistance amounting to 231 million to Ethiopia. We focus our efforts on three main areas, in support of the Ethiopian government's efforts to reduce poverty: improving governance, promoting human development, and encouraging sustainable growth. Since 2005 DFID has contributed 91 million to the Productive Safety Net Programme, which provides cash and food to some seven million people who face food shortages every year, in exchange for participation in public works. We also provided 7 million in response to emergency appeals.
	This year, Ethiopia is struggling to cope with the combined effects of high food prices and a poor rainy season and the latest available figures indicate that a further 4.6 million people will need emergency food aid from June to September this year. In 2008, DFID has given 5 million to the UN-managed Humanitarian Response Fund for humanitarian operations in Ethiopia, and is planning to give a further 10 million in response to the worsening situation.

Ethiopia: Food Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his latest estimate is of the number of people in Ethiopia dependent on food aid; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The latest available figures indicate that 4.6 million people will need emergency food aid from June to September this year. This is in addition to the 7.2 million people in Ethiopia who face food shortages every year, and who receive support through the Ethiopian Government's Productive Safety Net Programme, to which the UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID) is a major contributor providing 91 million since 2005.
	In 2008, DFID has also given 5 million to the UN-managed Humanitarian Response Fund for humanitarian operations in Ethiopia, and is planning to give a further 10 million in response to the worsening situation.

Ethiopia: Unemployment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps he has taken to tackle unemployment in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's work in Ethiopia is focused on three main areas: improving governance, promoting human development, and encouraging sustainable growth. Through the Productive Safety Net Programme cash or food is provided for vulnerable households in exchange for temporary employment on public works. In addition, our contribution to the Protection of Basic Services programme enables the Ethiopian Government to pay the salaries of staff working in health and education.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1175W, on the Fair Trade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this expenditure was on Fair Trade products.

Gareth Thomas: The amounts spent on hospitality for meetings for the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2005-06 190,826 
			 2006-07 189,332 
			 2007-08 177,425 
		
	
	Precise figures for the proportion of the above which is Fairtrade are not available, but based on value it is estimated that it represents around 35 per cent.

Iraq: Utilities

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has given to Southern Iraq to improve infrastructure for the supply of water and power.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on Wednesday 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1040W.

Malawi: Health Services

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on improving health care, and access to health care, in Malawi since 2005.

Gillian Merron: By the end of June 2008, the Department for International Development (DFID) will have spent approximately 55.5 million on improving health and access to health care in Malawi since 2005. This includes 7 million of DFID general budget support allocated by the Government of Malawi to improving health care; 40,475,323 of direct support to the Ministry of Health; and 8,176,835 to non-governmental organisations to provide services and technical assistance. In addition, DFID has provided 4,510,606 to the National AIDS Commission (NAC) to scale up HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, management and support.
	In 2005 to 2011, the UK has committed a total of 100 million support to the health sector programme in Malawi. Additionally, 14 million has been committed to support the National AIDS Commission (NAC) to scale up interventions in HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and management.

Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework will be published.

Douglas Alexander: All of the Department for International Development's independent evaluations are published at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Mozambique: Floods

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what means his Department monitors the effectiveness of its contribution to the government of Mozambique resettlement fund for relocation of those at risk from flooding.

Gillian Merron: Two advisers from the Department for International Development's office in Mozambique visited the disaster area in June to monitor the effectiveness of its contribution to the government of Mozambique Resettlement Fund for relocation of those at risk from flooding. DFID officials assessed the capacity of the government's disaster response unit in Caia, met with communities affected by floods on both sides of the Zambezi river, inspected infrastructure under construction, e.g. access to roads, railway and bridges, evaluated water management, irrigation and agricultural investment and discussed progress with NGOs working in the region .

Nepal: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has provided in humanitarian and development aid to the health sector in Nepal in the last 10 years; and what projects have been supported by such funding.

Douglas Alexander: Over the last decade, DFID has provided 64,176,124 to the health sector in Nepal. Of this, 62,076,907 has been provided for development through longer term projects and programmes which support the public sector delivery of services. The remaining 2,099,217 was provided for humanitarian projects which were short term and were mainly delivered by non- government providers. The following programmes have been supported:
	
		
			  Name of programme  Duration of programme  Amount spent to date () 
			  Ongoing programmes   
			 Nepal Health Sector Programme July 2004 to July 2009 17,284,378 
			 Support to Safe Motherhood Programme December 2004 to December 2009 10,935,165 
			 National HIV/AIDS Programme October 2004 to October 2009 7,620,000 
			
			  Completed projects (i) funded from the bilateral programme   
			 Support to National TB Programme January 2001 to January 2007 5,416,000 
			 Reproductive Health programme April 1997 to April 2006 8,519,411 
			 Nepal Health and Population Development Programme June 1999 to December 2004 316,854 
			 Support to UNICEF Health Project February 2003 to December 2004 200,000 
			 Polio Eradication Programme January 2002 to December 2004 3,063,257 
			 Safe Motherhood Project March 1997 to October 2004 5,356,427 
			 District Health Strengthening Project January 1999 to October 2004 3,365,415 
			
			  Completed projects (ii) funded from Global Conflict prevention programme: humanitarian assistance   
			 Support to Health Services August 2003 to January 2005 114,214 
			 Strengthening Health Services in Conflict Areas August 2002 to November 2004 1,985,003

Nepal: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent in Nepal to support child health interventions through the Ministry of Health.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided 16.26 million to the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population's Child Health Programme since 2005. In addition, DFID funds a major Safe Motherhood programme which has provided 4.9 million earmarked budget support since 2006.

Nile Basin Initiative

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment has been made of the impact of the Nile Basin Initiative in the region; and what the role of his Department was in implementing this initiative.

Douglas Alexander: Through its projects across Nile Basin, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is building greater awareness of the need for and benefits of cooperative development. The investment projects under preparation include flood protection, watershed management, and power sharing.
	The NBI is assessed annually by all funding partners. The last meeting was in April 2008. We concluded that the NBI is making good progress to build regional cooperation to better manage the water resources of the Nile. This is essential to tackle poverty, enable growth and maintain peace in the region, as well as for climate change adaptation.
	DFID engages with the NBI on a regular basis to support implementation and to review progress. In recognition of our commitment to achieving Nile cooperation and the ongoing success of the NBI, we recently doubled our financing to the NBI, now with a total commitment of 14 million.
	DFID also supports civil society engagement in the NBI, through the Nile Basin Discourse. This aims to bring greater voice and accountability to the Government led development process.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason 3 per cent. of the scheduled poverty reduction budget for 2007 was not disbursed; and what has happened to those funds.

Douglas Alexander: Details on the predictability of DFID Poverty Reduction Budget Support in 2007 are available in Table 5.5, page 96 of the DFID publication 'Development: Making it Happen', DFID's 2008 Annual Report. This publication is available online at
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	or from the Library.
	Any funds not disbursed to partner governments were reallocated to other programmes.

Overseas Aid: Cost Effectiveness

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will provide information that shows how UK civil society concerns are reflected in his Department's aid effectiveness work and preparations for the HLF in accordance with the dialogue his Department has with UK Advocacy Network.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development has regular dialogue with the UK Aid Network (UKAN) to ensure their concerns feed into our policy and action and that these concerns are reflected in our work to improve aid effectiveness in line with the Paris Declaration.
	In preparation for the High Level Forum, we are supporting the involvement of civil society through research, advocacy and participation at Accra. This includes funding seminars to raise awareness and debate about aid effectiveness issues.

Overseas Aid: Cost Effectiveness

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what definition he uses of corporate priority in referring to improving aid effectiveness.

Douglas Alexander: Corporate priorities are identified through the business planning process. The corporate priorities are then included in the Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs). Two of DFID's seven DSOs are about aid effectiveness, demonstrating the priority DFID attaches to it. They are Departmental Strategic Objective No. 5. (To make all bilateral and multilateral donors more effective); and Departmental Strategic Objective No. 6. (To deliver high quality and effective bilateral development assistance).

Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated to national health programmes in Pakistan for reducing child mortality.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided 83.5 million in support of the national health facility over the last five years (2003-08). The funds have contributed to reducing child mortality by supporting programmes to improve immunisation; nutrition; malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS control; and family planning. In total it is estimated our support has helped prevent the deaths of 200,000 children.
	In addition in 2006 we committed 90 million over five years to Pakistan's National Maternal and Newborn Health Programme. Not only will this improve maternal health and welfare and prevent maternal deaths, but it is also estimated it will save the lives of 100,000 newborn children.

Sierra Leone: Human Rights

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of progress of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's study on the relationship of social policy issues, gender equality, social inclusion and effectiveness in Sierra Leone.

Gillian Merron: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's study on the relationship of social policy issues, gender equality, social inclusion and effectiveness in Sierra Leone was undertaken in Sierra Leone during November and December 2007, with the final report being presented in January 2008.
	The Government of Sierra Leone have not undertaken any formal assessment of progress of the study as a whole so far. However, there have been assessments of progress in some specific areas. Of particular note are the campaigns to encourage more women to vote in the up coming local elections, and to stand as candidates (partly funded by DFID under an umbrella programme Promoting Voice and Transparency on Elections, PIVOT). Although the figures will not be known until after the elections, the number of women candidates standing (16.5 per cent.) is nearly double that of last time (9 per cent.).
	In the five months since the study's launch, the Government agency that has responsibility for the monitoring of the study (the Development Assistance Co-ordination Office, DACO) has been focused on finalising two strategic processes:
	1. Completing the overall Survey of the Paris Declaration (February and March 2008). This is the strategic process which regularly monitors aid effectiveness issues in partner countries.
	2. The production of a new Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, PRSP, which is the National Development Strategy monitored under Indicator One of the Paris Declaration Survey.

South Asia: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what organisations his Department is supporting to fight HIV and AIDS infection in the South Asia region; and how much these organisations received in 2007-08.

Douglas Alexander: Within the South Asia region, DFID supported the fight against HIV and AIDS in India, Nepal and Pakistan during 2007-08.
	In India, 21.6 million was provided to the National AIDS Control Organisation, and a further 5.6 million to various organisations including UNAIDS, the BBC World Service Trust, and a range of local NGOs.
	In Nepal, 2.1 million was provided to the National Centre for AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Control, and to a range of local NGOs through UNDP.
	In Pakistan 1 million was provided to the National AIDS Control Programme, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and UNAIDS.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the likely humanitarian effect of changes announced on 10 June 2008 to the World Food Programme Humanitarian Service in Sudan.

Gareth Thomas: Our initial assessment is that the flight changes announced by the World Food Programme's Humanitarian Air Service will not adversely affect the front-line work of the humanitarian operation in Darfur. The reductions in the helicopter service still represent an increase from 2007. Other flight changes affect connections between the capital Khartoum and the South. Although these will not have a significant impact on humanitarian operations, they will affect the frequency with which aid workers can travel to regional hubs.

UNICEF Go To School Campaign

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution the UK made to the UNICEF Go to School Campaign.

Gareth Thomas: In March 2008 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided 1.2 million to UNICEF Sudan for the Go to School programme. DFID is very happy to support this important initiative which has seen a significant increase in school attendance in Southern Sudan since its inception two years ago.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff are employed in Downing Street's House Management Team.

Tom Watson: Ten.

10 Downing Street: Procurement

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list each of Downing Street's preferred suppliers, indicating in each case the suppliers' specialism.

Phil Hope: The Prime Minister's Office is part of the Cabinet Office.
	In line with Government procurement policy, the Cabinet Office selects its suppliers through competition unless there are justifiable reasons to do otherwise, taking account of value for money. Many of its suppliers are awarded contracts under pan-government framework agreements which have been competed through the EU advertising procedures. Information on suppliers' specialisms is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Central Office of Information: Procurement

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who the Central Office of Information's preferred suppliers are; what the specialism of each is; and what mechanism was used to select them.

Tom Watson: The Central Office of Information has over 800 suppliers listed on our website, www.coi.gov.uk, covering 31 frameworks set up in line with EU procurement directives. Information on suppliers' specialisms is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance governs the use by former Ministers of air miles incurred from ministerial travel for personal travel once they leave office.

Phil Hope: Guidance relating to the use of air miles for official travel is set out in the Ministerial Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Contracts

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins) of 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 687W, on departmental contracts, what the purpose of each such project in relation to each firm was.

Phil Hope: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 687W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, (Jim Cousins).

Departmental Freedom of Information

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Information Commissioner's Freedom of Information Good Practice Guidance Note no. 4 on time limits on consideration of the public interest; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office aims to respond to all Freedom of Information requests within 20 working days. In some cases the consideration of the public interest takes longer and in these instances a response is given within such time as is reasonable in the circumstances, as required by the Freedom of Information Act.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information was requested in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests to the Cabinet Office with case references  (a) FS50077719 (received 2 June 2005),  (b) FS50085720 (11 August 2005),  (c) FS50086426 (17 August 2005),  (d) FS50088735, (14 September 2005), (e) FS50088745, (14 September 2005),  (f) FS50089369 (21 September 2005),  (g) FS50090742, (6 October 2005),  (h) FS50091011 (10 October 2005),  (i) FS50097905 (6 December 2005) and  (j) FS50098388 (8 December 2005).

Edward Miliband: The Information Commissioner has issued a Decision Notice for FS50090742: 'The assessment by the Joint Intelligence Committee of Iraq's declaration of its weapons of mass destruction in December 2002'. The Decision Notice is available on the Information Commissioner's website at:
	http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2008/fs_50090742.pdf
	and a copy has been placed in the House for the reference of Members.
	Decision notices on the other requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2006, will be published in due course by the Information Commissioner.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications the Cabinet Office has submitted in the last 24 months.

Phil Hope: Information on planning applications made by the Cabinet Office can be found on the Westminster city council website:
	http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/planning/applications/search/.
	The Cabinet Office has not made any licensing applications in the last 24 months.

Departmental Procurement

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether Cabinet Office purchase orders are recorded in an electronic database.

Phil Hope: Cabinet Office purchase orders are recorded in an electronic database.

Departmental Public Relations

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what  (a) job title,  (b) function and  (c) role Nicola Burdett has in No. 10 Downing street.

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when Nicola Burdett began work at 10 Downing street; what her job title is; and who her line manager is.

Tom Watson: Nicola Burdett is appointed to No.10 as a special adviser. Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

Departmental Travel

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what records his Department holds of  (a) air miles, and similar promotional travel schemes provided to civil servants in the Cabinet Office in respect of travel paid for from the public purse and  (b) the subsequent use of such benefits.

Phil Hope: If Cabinet Office staff receive air miles or similar promotions as a result of travel on official business, they are either used for future official travel, or, if this is not possible, they are donated to a charity of the travel operator's choice.

Dorneywood: Official Hospitality

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Ministers have used Dorneywood for departmental functions or events since June 2007.

Phil Hope: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 939W.

Dorneywood: Official Hospitality

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) of 25 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1962W, on Dorneywood, if he will place in the Library the guidance issued to Ministers on the use and availability of Dorneywood for Government meetings and seminars.

Phil Hope: Guidance on the use of official residences is set out in the Ministerial Code. Dorneywood is held in Trust for use as an official residence, as has been the case under successive administrations. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has the use of Dorneywood as an official residence. The Chancellor and the Trustees have now made Dorneywood available to other Ministers to use for official engagements.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Central Office of Information last updated their euro changeover plans; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Phil Hope: A copy of the most recent version of the Cabinet Office's euro changeover plan has been placed in the Library of the House. The Central Office of Information is currently formulating its euro changeover plan which is intended for publication at the end of July 2008.

Electoral Register: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of the qualifying population are registered as electors in  (a) each local authority in the north-west and  (b) Warrington.

Tom Watson: The information falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your questions asking what percentage of the qualifying population are registered as electors in (a) each local authority in the North West and (b) Warrington. (212308).
	Table 1 gives the number of people who are registered to vote in the local/European elections as a percent of the estimated usually resident population age 18 and over, for each local authority in the North West (and Warrington), for 2006.
	These percentages provide the closest available approximation to the registration rates that you requested. However they should not be interpreted as the percentage of the eligible population who are registered to vote. Not everyone who is usually resident is entitled to vote, for example foreign citizens from outside of the EU and Commonwealth are not eligible.
	The figures used are for the local/ European electorate because the eligibility criteria are closer to the definition of the usually resident population than those for the parliamentary electorate (EU citizens are included and UK citizens resident abroad are excluded).
	For some areas rates exceed one hundred per cent as figures for the registered electorate may be inflated. People who have more than one address may register in more than one place (e.g. students may register at parental and term-time addresses and electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or died).
	The limitations described above affect areas in different ways. This limits comparability of these figures across local authorities.
	The figures provided are for the most recent year that estimates of the usually resident population are available. Electoral statistics for December 2007 are available at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme other/UK_Electoral Statistics_2007.xls
	
		
			  Table 1: The local/European electorate as a percentage of the estimated usually resident population aged 18+ for each local authority in the North West and Warrington. 
			  Percentage 
			  Area  Mid-2006( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3) 
			  North West 97 
			   
			 Blackburn with Darwen UA 100 
			 Blackpool UA 99 
			 Halton UA 100 
			 Warrington UA 98 
			   
			  Cheshire  
			 Chester 97 
			 Congleton 100 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 97 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 99 
			 Macclesfield 102 
			 Vale Royal 99 
			   
			  Cumbria  
			 Allerdale 96 
			 Barrow-in-Furness 93 
			 Carlisle 99 
			 Copeland 99 
			 Eden 99 
			 South Lakeland 97 
			   
			  Greater Manchester (Met.  County)  
			 Bolton 100 
			 Bury 98 
			 Manchester 91 
			 Oldham 92 
			 Rochdale 98 
			 Salford 94 
			 Stockport 99 
			 Tameside 94 
			 Trafford 95 
			 Wigan 99 
			   
			  Lancashire  
			 Burnley 99 
			 Chorley 98 
			 Fylde 98 
			 Hyndburn 96 
			 Lancaster 92 
			 Pendle 95 
			 Preston 92 
			 Kibble Valley 98 
			 Rossendale 101 
			 South Ribble 100 
			 West Lancashire 101 
			 Wyre 98 
			   
			  Merseyside (Met. County)  
			 Knowsley 95 
			 Liverpool 93 
			 St. Helens 98 
			 Sefton 97 
			 Wirral 99 
			 (1) Figures for the local/European electorate are those registered to vote if an election had been held on 1 December 2006 and refer to a qualifying date of 15 October 2006. (2) The estimated usually resident population are the mid-year population estimates for 30 June 2006 (3) Registration rates exceed 100 per cent. where the registered electorate exceed the estimated population of an area. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 592W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this total was spent on Fairtrade products.

Phil Hope: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Procurement

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the Cabinet Office's policy is on requiring purchase orders to be submitted before expenditure is made.

Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office's purchasing policy requires that purchase orders are submitted before expenditure is made for purchases over 500.

Heads of Government Summit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the attendees of the Heads of Government summit held on 5 April.

Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
	The Heads of Government and international organisations who attended the Progressive Governance Summit on 5 April were:
	The right hon. Gordon BrownPrime Minister
	His Excellency Kevin RuddPrime Minister, Australia
	His Excellency Alfred GusenbauerChancellor, Austria
	Her Excellency Michelle BacheletPresident, Chile
	His Excellency Mr. Dimitris ChristofiasPresident, Cyprus
	His Excellency Mr. John KufuorPresident, Ghana
	His Excellency Romano ProdiPrime Minister, Italy
	Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson-SirleafPresident, Liberia
	His Excellency Mr. Gediminas KirkilasPrime Minister, Lithuania
	Her Excellency Helen ClarkPrime Minister, New Zealand
	His Excellency Jens StoltenbergPrime Minister, Norway
	His Excellency Mr. Robert FicoPrime Minister, Slovakia
	His Excellency Mr. Thabo MbekiPresident, South Africa
	The right hon. Peter MandelsonEuropean Commissioner for Trade
	His Excellency Mr. Javier SolanaEU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy
	The hon. Bill ClintonClinton Foundation
	Mr. Dominique Strauss-KahnInternational Monetary Fund
	Mr. Antonio GuterresUN High Commissioner for Refugees
	Mr. Kemal DervisUN Development Programme
	Mr. Pascal LamyWorld Trade Organisation
	Dr. Donald KaberukaAfrican Development Bank.
	A final comprehensive list of all audience members who attended the summit is not available.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on ministerial policy advisers, to which former special advisers the Cabinet Office has  (a) granted and  (b) withheld approval to take up an outside appointment on leaving post in (i) the Prime Minister's Office and (ii) the Cabinet Office since May 2005.

Edward Miliband: Personal information about the applications submitted by special advisers, and other Crown servants, is made public only in accordance with the principles and practices followed in the operation of the Business Appointment Rules. This information, which includes details of the appointments of the most senior staff and statistical data about cases at the more junior levels, is published on the website of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (www.acoba.gov.uk) and in its reports.

Political Office: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff have worked in the Downing Street Political Office in each year since 1996-97.

Tom Watson: Staff in the Political Office are not employees of the Cabinet Office and therefore records of staff numbers are not held.

Public Bodies

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 March 2008,  Official Report, column 18WS, on Public Bodies 2007, for what reason the latest edition of Public Bodies does not publish detailed information on the size and expenditure of each individual non-departmental public body.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies continues to provide headline information on the size, expenditure and membership of the non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) sector. It is now the responsibility of individual sponsor Departments to publish detailed information on their NDPBs on an annual basis.

Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1308W, on television, in what room in Downing street the television purchased was installed.

Phil Hope: The television was installed in Downing street Offices.